Throughout Shakespeare’s literature similar themes reoccur frequently. One theme which is evident throughout Macbeth is the use of parental and child references. Shakespeare associates children and babies and parenthood within the play.
Child references describe many things. One use may be seen when Duncan thanks Macbeth for his bravery in battle, Macbeth replies.“Your highness' part is to receive our duties and our duties are to your throne and state children and servants" (Act 1,Scene 4,23-25). Macbeth refers to the king as being a father to his children and his children being his people.
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We can assume she tells us that she would kill even if it was her own child. Shakespeare uses them to show the warmth and also the coldheartedness of his characters’ personalities. He also begins to show a consience since he describes Duncan’s death would be like a hard wind that brings a tear to the eyes. This is an example of the maternal motif. When Lady Macbeth hears this, she tells Macbeth that he is a coward. These characters include Malcom, Donalbain, and Lennox. "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" (Act 1, Scene 7, 21-25). He was delivered through an unnatural birth, which gave him the power to kill Macbeth because it matched the witch’s prophecy. He ponders what will happen after he kills Duncan. “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
Hartman
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pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, ?And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you /Have done to this. He does that because he associates babies with innocence and peace. We also see that Shakespeare has decided to create many characters which are introduced as sons of Duncan.
Another part of the theme of children and babies could be seen in the reference to Macduff’s birth.
Approximate Word count =
456
Approximate Pages =
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