Children since even the time of Christ, have represented purity, innocence, and the future. The destruction of children is also the destruction of the future and the destruction of what is innocent and pure. If the future is destroyed, along with all that is innocent and pure, then all that is left is the evil and corrupt. William Shakespeare includes references to children and young characters in Macbeth to illustrate the destruction of fertility, the corruption in Scotland, and the effect on the future growth in Scotland. Macbeth’s thoroughly corrupt actions in the play force Malcolm and Donalbain, and Fleance to flee Scotland. Malcolm and Donalbain both flee Scotland after their father, King Duncan, is murdered. Malcolm flees to England and Donalbain flees to Ireland, because they do not feel like they are safe in Scotland anymore. Shakespeare writes, “there’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer bloody” (II.iv.135-136). Malcolm and Donalbain feel that they cannot trust anyone in the castle because someone in the castle is guilty. Fleance was another young character in the play …show more content…
The only bird mentioned in the play that is not evil, is the martlet. Banquo acknowledges, “[t]his guest of summer, [t]he temple haunting martlet, does approve [b]y his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath” (I.vi.3-5). Banquo points out that since a martlet is building its nest in Macbeth’s castle, it must have the nicest air. Banquo uses this bird to describe Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s home, because of their specific taste. The reference to martlets is also used because after Macbeth has become corrupt the martlets no longer build houses in Macbeth’s castle. This illustrates how evil the kingdom of Scotland has become. Lady Macduff references, Macduff refers to Macbeth as a hell-kite that killed all of his chickens, after Macbeth killed Macduff’s family. A hell-kite is a