The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare: the tale of a Scottish warrior named Macbeth. Convinced by witches that becoming King of Scotland is his fate, Macbeth drives himself to murder members of his kingdom. This tragedy holds an exceptional amount of images that form the piece, but one incredibly interesting aspect: the idea of children. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the only characters in the play that do not have children. Nonetheless, all of Macbeth’s so called “enemies” have some form of offspring that challenge his position as king. Therefore, children are a constant reminder of how Macbeth will fail as a king and as a person.
In the days of kings and queens, having a legacy was extremely important in keeping that family name royal. …show more content…
Towards the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is a relentless character that ask evil spirits to “unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!” (1.5.41-43). While Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a close, equal relationship, Lady Macbeth still hasn’t experienced the joy of being a mother. This excess of energy that she puts into becoming the ultimate “murderous queen” would have otherwise been used to tend to children. Also, as time progresses in the Macbeth universe, Lady Macbeth expresses her guilt of her husband’s murderous attitudes directed towards children by pretend sleep-washing the innocent blood off her hands. She recalls his murders by speaking to herself “The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.39-40). Consequently, by murdering children because of not having any of his own, Macbeth has succeeded in becoming the villain and turning everyone - even his wife - against …show more content…
Other than the Macduff children, there are two other instances where children appear; both times being when Macbeth is shown the apparitions by the Weird Sisters. They are the second and third apparitions: the bloody child, and the crowned child. Inherently a symbol of the blood loss from Macduff’s mother when he was born by cesarean section, the child prophecies “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81). This prophecy leads Macbeth to believe that he is indestructible, nonetheless he is defeated by Macduff. The Crowned Child, a symbol of how there will be a new king, prophecies “Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1.90-93). Macbeth believes this is impossible, until the Siward’s army Macduff brings to defeat him dresses in the Birnam Wood to disguise themselves. The images of the bloody child as well as the child crowned are literally children that bring prophecies that lead straight to Macbeth’s
In the days of kings and queens, having a legacy was extremely important in keeping that family name royal. …show more content…
Towards the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is a relentless character that ask evil spirits to “unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!” (1.5.41-43). While Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a close, equal relationship, Lady Macbeth still hasn’t experienced the joy of being a mother. This excess of energy that she puts into becoming the ultimate “murderous queen” would have otherwise been used to tend to children. Also, as time progresses in the Macbeth universe, Lady Macbeth expresses her guilt of her husband’s murderous attitudes directed towards children by pretend sleep-washing the innocent blood off her hands. She recalls his murders by speaking to herself “The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.39-40). Consequently, by murdering children because of not having any of his own, Macbeth has succeeded in becoming the villain and turning everyone - even his wife - against …show more content…
Other than the Macduff children, there are two other instances where children appear; both times being when Macbeth is shown the apparitions by the Weird Sisters. They are the second and third apparitions: the bloody child, and the crowned child. Inherently a symbol of the blood loss from Macduff’s mother when he was born by cesarean section, the child prophecies “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81). This prophecy leads Macbeth to believe that he is indestructible, nonetheless he is defeated by Macduff. The Crowned Child, a symbol of how there will be a new king, prophecies “Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1.90-93). Macbeth believes this is impossible, until the Siward’s army Macduff brings to defeat him dresses in the Birnam Wood to disguise themselves. The images of the bloody child as well as the child crowned are literally children that bring prophecies that lead straight to Macbeth’s