Hurt Minds In Macbeth

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Balm of Hurt Minds Peaceful and soothing, sleep is something to look forward to at the end of each day. The element of sleep is repeated several times in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1606) and we can study how it is used to understand the role of sleep in the story. Sleep is vital to a person’s health because it allows them to get rest and feel energized the following day. However, it is not uncommon for sleep to be delayed or interrupted by negative thoughts that torment one’s mind, and this holds true for some of the characters in Macbeth. The characters in Macbeth sleep differently throughout the play, depending on their levels of anxiety and guilt. Some are able to rest comfortably, while others have difficulty doing the same. The meaning …show more content…

The characters that behave morally can be distinguished from those that follow their own evil agendas based on the manner in which they sleep. Some of the characters in the play are able to sleep well, and this is because of the integrity and righteousness of their actions. In fact, the only instance in which a character is shown to be able to rest peacefully is on the night Duncan stays at Macbeth’s castle. Duncan is portrayed as a worthy king and is widely regarded for his benevolence. He has no suspicions of Macbeth and is instead appreciative of his service in the war. For this reason, he is free from any anxiety while asleep on the night of his death. He is able to rest calmly because he has not done anything to warrant any resentment towards him and has nothing to worry about. Macbeth possesses the same innocence and can even be considered honorable when the play begins because of his success in battle. However, his soul is no longer pure once he and his wife plot to kill Duncan. Before the murder, he hears a voice whisper: “Sleep no more! / …show more content…

Shakespeare recognizes the importance of sleep and uses it to demonstrate the consequences of one’s behavior. In Macbeth, the righteous and honest are able to sleep calmly because they have little to feel anxious about. On the other hand, the evil and power-hungry can barely get any sleep at all because the guilt of the crimes they have committed pains their consciences and will not go away easily. Thus, sleep represents innocence and purity whereas lack of sleep represents guilt and anxiety. Shakespeare might be trying to say that murderers and traitors do no deserve to be able to enjoy living in peace like everybody

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