Macduff and Macbeth both left their wives unprotected and unattended. Lady Macbeth was ill, and Macbeth learned of her health only through reports. When he finally asked about her, he said “How is your patient, doctor?” (5.3.37). Referring to her as a "patient," rather than using a more affectionate term to express his concern for her health, he did not accompany her and stayed focused on his power, rather than his wife's well-being. This shows that Lady Macbeth was never his priority, and he has little to no love for her. Similarly, Macduff left his wife and children behind to seek help. He overlooked the possible danger they might face, thus leaving them unprotected. Macduff was more attentive and affectionate towards his family, while Macbeth …show more content…
In the dialogue between Ross and Macduff’s wife, she exclaims “Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes” (4.2.6), signifying her disbelief at his decision to leave them without ensuring their safety. This instance also implies that Macduff's absence causes a shift in the family dynamic, as his potential role as protector and provider is suddenly disrupted. Without his presence, the household is left vulnerable, prompting Lady Macduff to express her frustrations and concerns, which she later expresses in her conversation with her son by stating “Sirrah, your father’s dead. And what will you do now? How will you live?” which he then replied to “As birds do, mother.” (4.2.32) The son’s response made the scene more lighthearted and humorous despite the seriousness of the situation. These interactions between Lady MacDuff and her son accentuate the familial bond of the Macduff family depicting the love and care that they have for one another because although his absence causes a void, his wife expresses that through anger and disappointment as she also tries to convince her son that Macduff was dead to which he reacted to with humor and
In the interview with Lady Macduff, Ross describes her husband as "noble, wise, judicious" (Act IV, Scene2, 16) one whom "best knows the fits o’ the season" (Act IV, Scene2, 17). Why then, did Macduff leave his wife and family unprotected? Perhaps, there was a conflict of loyalties in- love of country vs. love of family- in his heart; realist though he was, Macduff may not have believed that Macbeth would stoop to such brutality and wickedness as the murder of women and children.
Thirdly, feelings of paranoia and guilt cause Macbeth characters to make damaging choices. When Macbeth asks the witches to reveal the truth of their prophecies to him, they summon horrible apparitions, each of which offers a prediction to allay Macbeth’s fears. First, a floating head warns him to beware Macduff. Macbeth says that he has already guessed as much. Later when Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth in reply says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; / Seize upon Fife; give to th'edge o'th'sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line.” (4.1.149-152). As Macbeth descends to madness he becomes obsessed with eliminating any threats to his power. Macbeth orders the murderers to kill Macduff's family and eliminate any threat to him. Ironically, this is the moment that Macbeth seals his own fate, by murdering Macduff's family he ensures Macduff's retaliation against him, which ultimately leads
So McBeth returned to them which is in Act IV Scene I wanting to know if everything he has done so far has protected himself and his spot in royalty, this shows he is being controlled by the witches lies and schemes. MacBeth second encounter of the witches starts out with one of the witches saying “By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.”(4.1.1594-1597). This is the first time in the play that MacBeth is recognized as a wicked person, even though no said he was wicked we can tell his personality and demeanor have changed from the first meeting to the next meeting of the witches. This is a great example of how MacBeth is the one who is in control and doing bad deeds to fulfill his prophecies of being king. MacBeth demands them to tell him what is going on, so MacBeth is taking more into his own hands, unlike earlier in the play where Lady MacBeth did all the planning. Though the witches tempt MacBeth when they tell him that No harm will come to MacBeth until Birnam Woods Marches up to Dunsinane castle. MacBeth does not consider the illusion of trees really moving. The witches also say no one born of a woman may harm MacBeth which sounds like no one will hurt him at all but MacDuff had a C-Section at birth. MacBeth thinks all these things are a confidence boost which could sound like fate but this leads MacBeth to his downfall and MacBeth is still in
Macbeth plots to kill Macduff's wife and child just because he didn't show up at
From the time Macbeth took the power of the Scottish throne, many more innocent civilians and royal officials have been executed by Macbeth to satisfy his lust for complete power. This central focus on power plunged the country into despair and lowered the wellbeing of his subjects, causing mass disapproval and speaking out from everyone; this subsequently led to Macbeth murdering anyone who spoke against him. This, as well as in seeking aid for Scotland, causes Macduff to travel to England, as, “For from broad words, and ‘cause he failed his presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace” (3, 22 – 23). Macbeth continues to ruin Scotland, causing Macduff to speak out, yet in a plain and concerned manner, rather than a boastful, selfish tone. Many would not dare speak against the king, as doing so ensures certain death. The courage of Macduff, however, does not prevent him from holding his tongue nor his actions, and he seeks to help Scotland without much regard for Macbeth’s backlash. This backlash, however, reaches Macduff’s family, and Macbeth orders everyone slain, which leaves only Macduff alive in England. Even though he no longer possesses anything in Scotland to physically fight for and protect, Macduff resolves to courageously fight for Scotland and rid it of Macbeth, while at the same time he works to avenge the murders of his family and household. Macduff’s final
One such character in “Macbeth” is Macduff, the Thane of Fife. Within the play, Macduff is the foil ; a character that exemplifies the contrasting characteristics of another character, who is Macbeth in this play. In stark contrast to Macbeth, Macduff resolves to restore peace and order in Scotland, which Macbeth has disrupted. After King Duncan's unfortunate demise and the coincidental murder of Scotland's Commander and Macbeth's dear friend, Banquo, Macduff suspects that Macbeth is not the “innocent flower”(1.5.56-57) he pretends to be. Macduff finds himself on the course to England, where Malcolm, the rightful heir to the throne, has found refuge. He wishes that Malcolm would reclaim the throne as the legitimate heir, which shows his allegiance to the royal family. Instead of grasping the throne for himself, he decides to endanger his family to restore the lawful king. When he was informed of the assassination of his kin, he was able to express his grief, like a true man. In this line Macduff mourns for the loss of his family, “...All my pretty ones/ Did you say "all"? O hell-kite! All? / What, all my pretty chickens and their dam/ At one fell swoop?”(4.3.255-258). Here, Macduff's immense capacity to sacrifice for the common good of his people is shown. Consequently, the following lines display his course of actions at the
Now Macbeth is in a complete delusion as he now believes to be himself invincible, yet is still paranoid enough to kill Macduff even though he doesn 't think he can be caused harm. Sending murderers to take care of Macduff, who kill Macduff 's wife and children when Macduff himself isn 't there.
At this point in the play, Macbeth is afraid of losing his crown that he is willing to do anything to save it. He lost his moral values and rational judgment. Every actions does indeed have consequences. Macduff learns the truth that Macbeth killed Duncan and when Macduff is often absent from Macbeth’s sight he grows suspicious. Macbeth has also been told by the witches during his second visit to beware of Macduff. Upon hearing this, he decided to send people to kill Macduff and his family. Macduff fled the castle first leaving his family behind. During the time Lady Macduff voice her fear: "He loves us not; / He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, / The most diminutive of birds, will fight, / Her young ones in her nest, against the owl" (4.2.11).
Macduff and Malcolm, along with ten thousand soldiers, move to Dunsinane to attack Macbeth at his castle. While the army is fighting, Macduff slips into Macbeth’s chambers. He calls out to Macbeth, saying, “That way noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves. Enter thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbattered edge I sheathe again undeeded” (420). Macduff tells Macbeth that he is coming to kill him. He hopes to get there before anyone else finds and kills Macbeth because he needs to avenge his wife and children. Macduff then finds Macbeth and stabs and kills him. If Macbeth had not chosen to kill Macduff’s family, Macduff would not have desired to kill him to avenge their deaths. This shows that Macbeth’s decision to murder yet another group of people led to his final
Even though others question Macduff’s responsibility for his family’s murder, "Why in that rawness left you wife and child”, he ultimately left them out of love for both family and country. Macduff’s persistent desire to defeat Macbeth determines his loyalty to country, rather than to the tyrant Macbeth. From the beginning, Macduff has valued country over leader, so when Duncan is murdered, and Macbeth will be coronated, “Will you go to scone/No, cousin, I’ll to Fife” (2.4.35-36). Macduff doesn’t attend the coronation because he is suspicious of Macbeth and his possible involvement in Duncan’s
Furthermore, we also learn about Lady Macduff’s and her kids’ death. To prove this, Macbeth says in Act 4, scene 1 that he wants to kill Macduff and his family for joining Malcolm, the protagonist adds “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, babes, and all unfortunate swords / That trace him in his line.” Although many might argue that Macbeth was forced to kill Duncan, which caused him to kill everyone else, the protagonist could of have refused to follow his wife’s orders and refrain from the power he wants. From the quotations used, we can now tell that Macbeth is a monster due to the murders he
Furthermore, Macduff also betrays his family. When Macduff leaves to Malcolm is found out by Macbeth, Macbeth orders: ‘give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.’ [Act4 Scene1] This indicates that Macduff’s careless act leads to the slaughter of his whole family. He doesn’t take his family goes with him, instead, he leaves them at home defenselessly. This can be considered as a betrayal of Macduff’s family because he sacrifices his family to gain a morally higher success. In the end, he kills Macbeth with his own hands, however, he will live with guilt and grief for the rest of his life and regret the death of his family. Macduff’s betrays only to a less extent because his betrays for good purposes and are not very severe compares to what Macbeth has
Macduff was the first to openly defy Macbeth by his decision to go to his castle in Fife rather than Macbeth’s coronation in “Scone” (2.4). Macduff flees to England to rally support and revolt against Macbeth (4.3). Macduff acts on his free will, uninfluenced by the power of Macbeth nor others, and does what he believes to be the best for himself and everyone else. He retains his independent thoughts and his sense of masculinity despite the consequences he might suffer, standing his grounds with his beliefs and ideology of being a true patriot. Later on, upon hearing the news of his family’s murder, Macduff shows his sensitivity: “I shall [disput it like a man], but I must also feel it like a man” (4.3). He depicts the ability to have emotions and link it to his masculinity as a part of human traits, embracing his weaknesses and flaws and showing that he also acts as he believes he should act. The sharp contrast between Macbeth’s cowardly actions and Macduff’s strong will is shown at the final battle between the two; Macbeth refuses to fight with Macduff when Macbeth learns Macduff is that one person in the prophecy that would defeat Macbeth until Macduff threatens to capture him alive and humiliates him in front of the crowd (5.8).Once again, Macbeth masculinity is threatened, and he gives in to the threat rather than stand his ground, leading to his ultimate demise. Macduff’s
The role of Macduff is an essential one in Macbeth. He acts as the brave antagonist and foil to Macbeth, while portraying a dynamic and round character in the play as well. Macduff’s values do not change throughout the play however, as acts progress, more is learned about his character and certain traits are accentuated. For example, Macduff is hostile against Macbeth from the beginning, immediately suspicious of his path to royalty, first seen when Macduff chooses to return to Fife instead of attend the new king’s coronation. As Macbeth is more overwhelmed with his power, and chaos ensues from his reign, Macduff’s suspicion and lack of acceptance in his kingship grows to fuel his rivalry against the once heroic Macbeth. Macduff is dynamic in his growth as a more involved character but also in his suspicion and hatred for the protagonist. In addition, Macduff is also considered a round character with many facets. In Act 4, Macduff is revealed as more than just a moral man and brave Thane, but also a sensitive family man with a wife and many children. His multi-facet life exposes the increasing differences in M...
... claims that Macduff cannot hurt him. He decided to do something before considering the consequences of his actions. Therefore, Macbeth orders the murder of Macduff and his family in order to eliminate the threat of Macduff. The prophetic information that Macbeth got from the apparitions lead to his actions in the play later, which finally push him to death at the end.