Essay: Uncover Shakespeare’s Use of Children in Macbeth

Even though Macbeth is said to have a “barren crown” in the play, children play a driving role in Shakespeare’s tragedy. The plotline contains many other symbols but it is difficult to ignore a symbol that is so prominent in the story. The prominence measured by the number of children, and metaphors to children that populate the play. A baby, dead or alive is used in the play to show innocence or lack thereof. They also take the role of foreshadowing what is to come later, as seen as the witches apparitions but they also represent the future of a bloodline. In Macbeth, a child symbolizes a character’s innocence and responsibility.
Responsibility is shown in Macbeth through an elaborate metaphor said by soldier Macbeth. As a starting point of the play, the soldiers are returning from war and receiving their praises and rewards for their services. The back and forth between Macbeth and King Duncan is very civil and then Macbeth replies with:
Your highness’ part
Is to receive our duties; and our duties
Are to your throne and state children and servants,
Which do but what they should, by doing every thing
Safe toward your love and honour (1.4.23-27).
Through this quotation one can observe the respect given to the king. This metaphor represents a common practice unique to the time period: a king will respect his subjects as a father respects his own child. With that being said, it also should be applied vice versa, that same child is expected to show the same respect to his father as the people of the kingdom should respect the king in return. This is the kings and subjects shared responsibility as illustrated through the addition of a child.
Though the symbol of a child can extend deeper than respect within a kingdom. A child can be used to represent something pure and innocent this is shown when Macbeth says:
And pity, like a naked new-born babe
Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubins, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind (1.7.21-25).
At this point, Macbeth is about to commit the murder of Duncan, and is not mentally prepared for the negative effects murder has on the murderer. He sees Duncan, his eyes interpret him to be soft and innocent like an angel, as his reign on the kingdom was. This, of course, is out of guilt for the actions he is about to commit. This metaphor is heavily suggesting that King Duncan resignated so deeply with his people, his death will be like the kind of wind, that blows softly creating a need to cry, similar to the actions of a young child.
On the contrary, Lady Macbeth, uses the exact same symbol of a child in a twisted light. Which is odd as she is a female, one with the capabilities to carry a baby. Still, she values it as a beacon of innocence, but this innocence is no longer a positive trait. This is noted when Lady Macbeth says:
How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this (1.7.54-57).
Her words come as an insult to her husband for possessing coward-like qualities. The words come out as strikingly personal, as if she was a mother sometime in the past; though it shows that she does not value innocence like her husband.
As Macbeth becomes greedy, and his ambition shines through to his deepest desire to become king. The idea of a baby transforms, from a description of innocence to the thing that ends his fate. As Macbeth speaks the witches a bloody child appears, “none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.80-81). Later, it is revealed that Macbeth can be harmed by Macduff because he was not a woman born, born as the bloody child seen in the apparition. The symbol of a child is used to finish off Macbeth who originally viewed a child as an angelic figure.
Throughout Macbeth, the symbol of a child and baby is used as a descriptionary term in assessing others personalities traits, from responsibility and respect to innocence and softness. Shakespeare’s use of a child is a good way to connect the characters with the audience. As this symbol is well known and its meaning has transcended time without a shift in context. A child used as a metaphor for innocence while the Macbeth’s were doing the murdering. Though, the play ends with a child used to finish off the short-lived tyranny of Macbeth.