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The Haunting Symbolism of Dead Babies in "Macbeth"

In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the imagery of dead babies serves as a powerful symbol of the moral decay of the characters. The witches' potion, including the "finger of birth-strangled babe," and Lady Macbeth's chilling resolve to kill her own child reveal their depths of ambition and guilt. Macbeth's hire of murderers to kill Macduff’s family and the subsequent horrors highlight the consequences of their ruthless pursuit of power. The stark contrast in experiences between Macbeth and Macduff emphasizes the profound loss and sorrow that accompanies the abandonment of humanity in the quest for dominance.

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The Haunting Symbolism of Dead Babies in "Macbeth"

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  1. Dead Babies By: Conner D’Amico, Alex Hefner, Stephen Coelho, Peter Mitchell

  2. Witches Brew • 4.1.30 • While witches are brew a potion • “Finger of birth-strangled babe.” • Refers to a baby being strangled

  3. Scolding Macbeth • 1.7.56-59 • When Lady Macbeth scolds her husband for not killing Duncan • “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 youHave done to this.” • Refers to Lady Macbeth killing a baby

  4. Bloody Child Apparition • 4.1.77-81 • Witches summon a dead baby apparition • “For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” • Apparition explains to Macbeth that no person of woman born can harm him

  5. Macduff’s Dead Children • Macbeth hires someone to kill Macduff’s children • Son - “Thou li’st, thou shag-eared villian!Murderer – “What, you egg! [stabbing him]Son – “He has killed me, mother: Run away, I pray you!” • The murderer killed Macduff’s children and wife and flees the scene. Macduff comes home to find his entire family dead.

  6. Symbolic Meaning • The fact that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have thoughts about killing children shows that they are willing to cross the point of no return when it comes to securing their power. • Macbeth will never know the feeling of having children and in turn will never know what the feeling of loss and sorrow is just like Macduff experienced when his family was murdered. It shows how morally dead Macbeth is on the inside.

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