The Motifs of Blood and Sleep in Act I of Macbeth:

By: Eric, Cameron, Victoria and Anika

Blood:

“Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood, / Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse,”

(Shakespeare, Act I, Scene v, Line 44-45)

Lady Macbeth doesn’t want to feel remorse for the murder of Duncan.

Sleep:

“I’ll drain him dry as hay:

Sleep shall neither night nor day

Hang upon his penthouse lid;

He shall live a man forbid:

Weary sev’ nights nine times nine

Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine:

Though his bark cannot be lost,

Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.

Look what I have.”

(Shakespeare, Act I, Scene iii, 18 - 26)

He is saying that Duncan shall never see the light of day again!

“When Duncan is asleep-- / Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey / Soundly invite him--” (Shakespeare, Act I, Scene vii, line 61-63)

This describes how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to assasinate King Duncan in his sleep, while his guards are also in a drunken slumber.

“Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely? From this time

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valour

As thou art in desire?...”

(Shakespeare, Act I, Scene vii, 36 - 41)

Lady Macbeth is calling Macbeth a coward asking him if he slept and awoke less of a man.