In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the theme of guilt is prominently portrayed through the motif sleep, revealing the profound effects it has on the human mind.Shakespear shows the effect that guilt can have on the human mind, even before Macbeth's first murder. On his way to kill King Duncan, Macbeth witnesses a floating dagger in the air and begins to address it, stating, "Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse / The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates / Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder" (2.1.50-51). In this moment, Macbeth engages in an internal battle with himself regarding the decision to kill Duncan. Consumed by guilt, he grapples with the idea of murdering a man who has done so much for him. The appearance of the dagger provides him with an opportunity to reconsider, to resist taking the dagger and abandoning his plan to kill Duncan. However, Macbeth ultimately chooses to take the dagger and proceed with the murder. My image, "Conflict Within," portrays the struggle within Macbeth. The image depicts a dark hallway, with one half bathed in red light representing the dark path Macbeth can choose to take, and the other half tinted white symbolizing the path of goodness he could remain on. At the border between the two halves stand two figures: Macbeth. One figure is more prominent, shaded in red and holding a dagger, representing the evil path he is inclined to follow. The other figure is black, lacking detail and fading away, representing the past Macbeth. This fading figure signifies the potential loss of his virtuous self as he descends further into darkness.The impact of guilt on Macbeth's mind becomes evident after he murders King Duncan. Immediately after the deed, he torments himself over the act. While on his way to meet Lady Macbeth, he begins to hear a voice and recounts it to her, “‘Sleep no more!’ to all the house; ‘Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more.’” (2.2.44-46). This voice is a manifestation of Macbeth's guilt, as only he can hear it. The voice crying "Sleep no more" punishes him for his actions, indicating his guilt and suggesting he will be plagued by sleeplessness as a result of the murder. I depicted this in my image, "No Sleep." In the center, Macbeth is surrounded by various forms of himself, wide awake and tormented throughout the night. The image symbolizes the consequences of Macbeth's guilt on his mental state. Macbeth reinforces the effects guilt has on him in a conversation with Lady Macbeth, “Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep / In the affliction of these terrible dreams” (3.2.18-19). Macbeth expresses the fear and torment he experiences. Having killed Duncan and given the order to kill his best friend, Banquo, Macbeth lives in constant fear of exposure, resulting in terrifying dreams haunted by his crimes. The fear and torment that accompany guilt are depicted in my image "Torment of Mind." It portrays Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the top right corner, their expressions filled with fear and sorrow. Surrounding them are symbols of their deeds: Banquo's skull and Lady Macbeth standing over the dead Duncan in his bed. These elements, highlighted with a red tone and surrounded by fire, represent the evil of the moment. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are depicted in gray, reflecting the torment and fear they experience. Overall, Macbeth's guilt takes a toll on his mental state, leading to hallucinations, sleeplessness, and torment.In the end, Guilt forces Macbeth to go into denial. After the feast, Macbeth opens up about his troubles to Lady Macbeth, having just seen Banquo's ghost. He sends everyone away, experiencing a breakdown during the feast. Lady Macbeth confronts him about his actions that night, to which he responds, “Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse / Is the initiate fear that wants hard use: / We are yet but young in deed” (3.4.144-145). Macbeth's guilt causes him to deny his terrible actions. Although he knows that murdering Banquo was wrong, he subconsciously punishes himself by being tormented by Banquo's ghost. Despite these haunting visions, he refuses to accept the wrongdoing and instead seeks solace in sleep, hoping that his guilt and regret will eventually fade away. To depict Macbeth's attempt to hide from his actions, my image titled "Strange Visions" portrays Macbeth at the center, holding his head and facing the floor with a tormented expression. Surrounding him are ghosts, representing his inner turmoil. This image serves as a visual representation of Macbeth's desire to conceal his guilt. Once again, Macbeth's guilt compels him to deny the reality of his situation. When the witches summon apparitions to deliver prophecies, Macbeth is told earlier in the play that Banquo's children will be kings, yet he is also told that he cannot be killed by anyone born of a woman. Despite the obvious contradiction between these two prophecies, Macbeth chooses to disregard it, declaring, “Sleep in spite of thunder” (4.1.108). By using this phrase, Macbeth indicates his determination to ignore the consequences of his actions and continue living in denial. In the image I have created, Macbeth lies at the center, sleeping. Below him is Banquo, depicted as dead on the train, while Banquo's deceased form from the play is positioned to the left. Above Macbeth, Duncan, killed in his sleep, is shown, and to the left of Duncan is Macduff, whom Macbeth intends to kill. The entire image is tinged with red, symbolizing the evil nature of Macbeth's actions. Macbeth sleeping represents his attempt to avoid confronting the darkness he has unleashed.Shakespeare utilizes sleep to illustrate the impact of guilt on the human mind. Through Macbeth's journey, we witness the gradual unraveling of his sanity as he grapples with the consequences of his heinous actions. The portrayal of hallucinations, sleeplessness, and his desperate attempt to find refuge in sleep serves as a reminder of the destructive power of guilt, ultimately leaving us with a profound understanding of the torment that guilt can inflict upon the human psyche.
