Themes and message

Insomnia

The main theme of the short story “A Good Night’s Sleep” by Brian McCabe is insomnia. The text deals with this sleep disorder extensively, as the main character is an insomniac who desperately tries to fall asleep. The text presents the symptoms of insomnia, and it gives an insight into how this sleep disorder affects the daily life and interpersonal relationships of those who suffer from it.

George Lockhart lies awake in his bed without being able to fall asleep. He has difficulties with finding a comfortable sleeping position (p. 146, l. 6, p. 148, ll. 10-11, p. 153, ll. 4-5), he has a hypersensitivity to noise (p. 146, l. 7), and he appears to be anxious (p. 147, ll. 18-19, p. 148, l.15). All of these are classic symptoms of insomnia, and they greatly affect his life. George becomes frustrated because he cannot fall asleep. He realises that his efficiency at work the next day will be affected by the fact that he cannot get enough hours of rest.

His interpersonal relationships also seem to suffer u...