In William Shakespeare's Macbeth there are many clever details and powerful images that have been intricately woven into the plot of the concise tragedy. One of Shakespeare's most effective tools used in this masterpiece is the motif. However subtle in nature, motifs used by Shakespeare in Macbeth are incredibly powerful. On a more narrow scale, the most effective and powerful motif found in the tragedy Macbeth is the images of sleep and the connotations associated with these images. Through the thoughts, actions, and feelings of the characters in Macbeth it will be shown that sleep is a crucial motif in the tragedy.

Many times sleep is thought to be a word which is in conjunction with one being tired or needing rest. Sleep, or sleeplessness, however, is often associated with a level of guilt one may have on their conscience. Macbeth does not deviate from this principle either...