Children were vehicles for passing things along. These things could be kingdoms, rich wedding gifts, stories, grudges, blood feuds. Through children, alliances were forged; through children, wrongs were avenged. To have a child was to set loose a force in the world.
The role of children transcends mere parenthood, serving as crucial agents for the transmission of culture and power. In societal contexts, they inherit not only material wealth, such as kingdoms and gifts, but also intangible legacies including stories and familial conflicts. Children symbolize a means through which familial ties are strengthened and historical grievances are addressed, showcasing their significance in the continuity of lineage and tradition.
Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad" emphasizes the formidable influence that children have in shaping the world. When a child is born, it represents a powerful force capable of altering relationships and dynamics within society. Children become the vessels through which past conflicts can be settled and new alliances can be formed, illustrating their dual role as bearers of legacy and agents of change.
