Literature Essay: Macbeth -
Title: Insomnia
B-by Hermanus van Staden (10.2)
In the play, Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, it can be agreed that Shakespeare’s use of sleep symbolises innocence and peace of mind. Firstly, peaceful sleep, which restores the body and the mind, is closely associated, in the play, with goodness and a clear conscience. Macbeth is guilty even before he kills Duncan. His hallucinations about the dagger, his fixation on blood and his inability to sleep become symbols of guilt and the consequences of his actions. Secondly and comparatively, the virtuous Duncan is deeply asleep when Macbeth comes to kill him. Finally, Macbeth realises in horror, soon after the murder, he himself can never sleep again peacefully because he will never find peace.
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It is natural to want to sleep after working hard. If the conscience feels guilt, the body will not let the person rest. When Macbeth murders Duncan, he thinks he hears a voice say “Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep’, the innocent sleep…” (2, 2, 38) His action keeps him awake to think about his sins. William Shakespeare uses images of sleep to show the guilt of Macbeth’s conscious. When the idea of the first murder enters Macbeth’s mind, things begin to go wrong. He no longer has the natural healthy, normal sleep. His sleep is made up of hallucinations and nightmares. “Glamis hath murder’d sleep’, and therefore Cawdor...Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.” (2, 2, 45 – 46) By killing Duncan, Macbeth actually does away with peaceful sleep. Only the admission of guilt or death can save