Shakespeare uses sleeplessness to represent the ever-increasing guilt of Macbeth and his wife throughout the play. At the beginning with the murder of Duncan when Macbeth wishes that someone could "wake" Duncan. Then later when Macbeth notes that the soon to be murdered Banquo is lucky because he will sleep. These are just some examples.
Shakespeare opens his theme of sleeplessness with the witches as they talk of a sailor's wife that would not share. They punish the sailor by plaguing his wife with the fault of his trouble: "sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid." The theme continues as Macbeth plans to frame the king's guards and says "When we have marked with blood those sleeps two." …
