Being and Function: the Structural use of Children in Shakespeare\u27s Plays

That Shakespeare believed children of royalty possessed a moral sense beyond their years may or may not be true. It is not, I think, the significant item in their treatment; and such a statement m no Way helps to explain the dramatic treatment of the children who are not of royal birth. Shakespeare\u27s Portrayal of children rests, primarily, on the necessities of the particular drama at hand, children are a structural element, part of the raw material he uses to build a play. They are used, always, to add in some way to plot, characterization, or theme. This is true even of the off-stage children. Person is intimately bound to function, not world view. It is this topic - children as beings with functional contributions to make to the plays - on which I wish to focus. I will consider the material under three broad headings: (1) Children and Plot, (2) Children and Characterization, (3) Children and Theme. The discussion will presume familiarity with the play