Babies And Children In Macbeth

Kady Tran
Mrs. Barry
English II Honors Period 4
5 June 2016
Babies and Children
Innocence, a new beginning, gradual growth, responsibility, and vulnerability are words that describes babies and children. Babies and children are the reasons why humans have not gone extinct yet. Without them, there would be no future. In Macbeth, babies and children are seen continuously throughout the play. It may seem as if they only appear for a split second here and there in the play, and have no significant role but it is quite the contrary. Although babies and children are seen as an obstacle in the way of Macbeth’s ambitions, they actually play a vital role because they showcase innocence, symbolize responsibility, and foreshadow what is to come in

After the death of King Duncan, Macbeth begins to freak out, and Lady Macbeth tells him, “I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d the brains out, had I sworn as you have done this” (Shakespeare I. vii. 54-59). Here Lady Macbeth is explaining how she is willing to sacrifice her own child for power. This imagery used, shows how ruthless she can be with someone that is so vulnerable, and innocent, just like how Macbeth killed King Duncan in his sleep. In addition to that is shows the lack of innocence Lady Macbeth has because she would have killed her own children and showed no feeling when she spoke about it. In the second apparition that the witches shows Macbeth is, a bloody child that tells him, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of

When Macbeth asks the witches if Banquo’s children will reign after him, eight Kings appears before him. The eighth king is holding a mirror followed by Banquo.Seeing this Macbeth shouts, “ Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo/ Down! Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs….Now I see ‘tis true/For the blood-bolted Banquo smiles upon me/and points at them for his”(Shakespeare IV.i.126-139).This scene is important because it foreshadows Macbeth’s restless behavior as well as his dissatisfaction. No matter what Macbeth does to stay king, he knows that he will never hold a legacy because he has no one to pass the kingship down to. The spirits of the eight king foreshadows shows how that Banquo’s children will become King whether Macbeth accepts it or not. It also shows how Macbeth will not be king for long and it is only temporary. To go off of that, way before any children had died, Macbeth learns that he is given, “...a fruitless crown...No son of mine succeeding”(Shakespeare.III.i..64). This is significant because the lack of children in Macbeth’s life foretells how he will not have anyone to carry along the family name.
Moreover young children are also messengers that are essential in the play. When Macbeth receives his apparitions, in the third one, a child appears in front of him and is wearing a