Friday, July 26, 2024

SOMNAMBULISM

 SOMNAMBULISM

[SLEEP WALKING]

                        POSTING NO. 1050

Somnambulism is something that no one wishes for self, no matter how strong the pressure of tension or stress is. Yet, it grips the gullible making him or her an object of suspicion or ridicule.  Sincerely there is no room for either, if one understands that the victim is outright innocent being not conscious of the happening or behaviour.

Yes, the person walks during sleep performing precise movements in the dark as if being driven by the Divine or by a devil.

“Somnambulism” is suggested to be   a  NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER , that manifests itself from inner anxiety. Given the situation making the event occur, one can infer that the victim is repeatedly pondering over something that is not known to others.

Possibly some act or prospect of some crisis haunts the person every now and then that it sets in motion a series of mental arguments / debates in soliloquy.

That the person chooses not to confide the issue with anyone is a signal that divulging the ‘item held within’ may shatter the image of the person for his/her conduct as being unworthy of trust [pretending to have been upright].

In plain terms the person’s guilt and the attendant disturbance to the conscience destroy the peace and natural kinship of him/her among members of the group. The feeling of guilt burrows through the tranquil corridors of a peaceful mind like a worm.  With no way of seeking alleviation without divulging the truth, the haunting within turns severe with passage of time, casting doubt on all others around as potent agent ready to break the mystery held within by the victim,  purely for personal safety and guarding the image of honesty. 

 Much of these human responses of a somnambulist are brilliantly brought out by William Shakespeare in his play ‘MACBETH’, where Lady Macbeth turns a somnambulist after the murder of King Duncan.

With all awe and admiration I recall Prof. M.Gopalakrishna Adiga’s discussion of somnambulism as teacher of the Shakespearean play.

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