MovieChat Forums > Macbeth (2015) Discussion > Is the older child also his son?

Is the older child also his son?

posted 9 years ago by princess_poux
4 replies | jump to latest

So, at the beginning Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are burying their toddler-age son, and has been discussed by others, the theme of their childlessness is central to the how the text is interpreted here.

I wondered if others felt it was implied that the older boy (I'd say 13/14/15?) who dies in the opening battle is also their son? Macbeth seems very tender with him before the battle, and then the way Macbeth handles his corpse (particularly the stones on the eyes, which no other corpse gets) mirrors very closely the treatment of the young son's body. The boy then appears in Macbeth's visions, and, again, when he sees him in the second witches' prophecy vision he caresses his face (and I think kisses him?) again implying a close relationship.

If the older boy was also their son, and died fighting for Malcolm, who had called in boys too young to fight in his desperation, I think it would make some of Macbeth's actions, and his descend into madness, even more poignant in this particular interpretation.

Might just be me though!

[–] imdbogdan 9 years ago

Interesting Gheorg, but no. Lady Macbeth would have inquired about the fate of their son or mourned him after the battle.

[–] imdbogdan 9 years ago

Gheorgh should read as "theory". Sorry. (Damn automatic spelling correction!)

[–] BoyScoutKevin 9 years ago

Maybe, and this is just supposition, depending upon the sequence of events, maybe the boy reminds Macbeth of his own son, if his son had lived long enough to grow into his teen years.

Or, does anybody know who killed the boy? Maybe, Macbeth is feeling a bit of regret at a life cut so short.

No . . . what I think is one of the most interesting conceits in the film, and one I have posted previously, is--apparently--the number of children featured in this film. Normally, we just get Macduff's children and Banquo's son Fleance, but here--apparently--we get those plus young witches, young villagers, young soldiers, etc.

[–] AminaHPlus 9 years ago

him of himself. I would assume that every young man entering war sees it as a right of passage to manhood, since little boys thinks it is fun to play war games. However, when you get to be a man, you see that teenager as a child. While the the teenager probably considers himself now a man. So basically, it is like MacBeth wishes that the teenager could be somewhere else but at the battle front.

Also, the boy would be of his clan for lack of a better word. Since clans are quite small, I am sure MacBeth has a relationship with most people he ruled over and lived by. It wouldn't be odd for him to just have a liking to the boy, since he probably watched him grow up. Just like you probably have an affection for a neighborhood kid, who you saw grow from being a baby to adult age. If that neighborhood kid died a tragic death, you would feel some sort of sadness, even though you may not have had much interaction with his family. It is just a communal bond type of thing.

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