Shakespeare's Macbeth contains much detail, including many powerful images that have been woven into the sullen plot of the tragedy. One of Shakespeare's most effective tools used in this masterpiece is the motif. The motifs used in Macbeth are incredibly powerful. Perhaps the most effective and powerful motif in the tragedy is the images of sleep and the connotations associated with these images. Through the thoughts, actions, and feelings of the characters in the play, sleep will prove to be a crucial motif in the tragedy.

Sleep is often thought to be a word which directly relates to one being tired, thus needing rest. Sleep, or sleeplessness, on the other hand, is often directly connected to the level of guilt one may have on their conscience. The play does not deviate from this idea either. In Macbeth, the motif of sleep and sleeplessness is used to express the...