The Sleep Walking
Scene--------Macbeth------ActV Scene I
Lines 1-75.
The
Sleep Walking Scene is an important scene in Shakespeare’s “ Macbeth.” Lady Macbeth undergoes so much mental
torture, after committing many murders,
along with her husband, Macbeth.
Though she
tries to hide them from everybody, she is not able to do so for a long time.
She reveals her secrets unconsciously in this Sleep Walking Scene. The only
other people present here are the doctor and the gentle woman.
The doctor has been watching
for two nights with the gentle woman to find out the nature of Lady Macbeth’s
ailment. The gentlewoman says that she has found Lady Macbeth walking in her
deep sleep, unlocking her closet, taking a piece of paper, writing something on
it, sealing it, and then returning to bed. The doctor asks if she has heard
Lady Macbeth saying anything at that time. The gentlewoman says that she will
not reveal that. When they are talking,
Lady Macbeth enters walking in her sleep with a taper in her hand. Her eyes are
open, “but their sense is shut.” She starts rubbing her hands. The gentlewoman says that it has been her
usual action continued for a quarter of an hour, symbolizing the washing of her
hands from guilt. Soon, Lady Macbeth
starts speaking. She reveals their murder of the old king, Duncan. She repeats
her words to her husband earlier, encouraging him to do the act. Then she expresses
her shock that the old man had so much blood in him. After that, she reveals that they have
murdered the thane of Fife’s wife. She is in a depressed condition, and
questions herself whether her hands will never be clean. She also laments that
all the perfumes of Arabia can not sweeten her little hand. Then she talks
about Banquo’s murder. She says that
Banquo, whom they have murdered, is in his grave, and he can not come out of his grave.
The doctor, who hears everything, is greatly surprised when he finds
out the reason for Lady Macbeth’s sleep walking sickness. He observes that
infected minds will reveal their secrets to their deaf pillows. He concludes
that Lady Macbeth needs the divine more than the doctor. He asks the kind nurse
to look after Lady Macbeth, “removing from her the means of all annoyance.”
Finally, he leaves the place, saying that he will not talk about this to
anybody.
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