Essay Comparing Macbeth And Macduff

Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, presents two characters, Macbeth and Macduff, who represent the aspects of leadership and ambition with different motives. Macbeth’s egocentric ambition leads him to become a ruthless leader, while Macduff’s ambition focuses on serving loyalty and service towards his country and his people. Both are Duncan's well-trusted thanes, but Macbeth’s selfish ambitions cause his passion to move over his reason, while Macduff sticks to keeping his reason over his passion. Due to the prophecy of witches, Macbeth indulges himself in creating his fate by carrying out malicious acts to keep his kinship safe from anyone; Macduff’s main priority becomes to rebel and dethrone Macbeth with the help of Malcolm

This topic may be highly debatable, but in the case of Macduff, he chooses his nation over his family. The audience may hate Macduff for leaving his family behind because they see how Lady Macduff and her son suffer a tragic end for Macduff. Being a soldier, a husband, and a father at the same time is not easy because you are stuck in the middle of serving your nation and your family. For Macduff, it is not easy to leave behind his family because he may have a lot of things on his mind; we can’t do everything at once. Macduff may have not gone to say goodbye to his family before he leaves England because what if he wants to divert the spies of Macbeth towards him rather than his family to protect them? Unfortunately, it may be hard to sacrifice your loved ones for an entire nation, but in the end, it is all worth it because many lives will be saved for the lives of a few. Macduff’s main priority is to serve his country and his people because he thought about the families of his nation over his family. Macduff to Malcolm, “They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am, Not for their own demerits, but for mine, Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now! (William Shakespeare, IV. II. 225-227). This is a characteristic of a true leader we see in Macduff because his ambition is gaining power back for his country rather than having it himself. Macduff may want to dethrone Macbeth and become the next king, but no, he proves what is loyalty because he brings Malcolm next to the throne in honor of Duncan. Macduff doesn’t let Duncan's perspective of trusting his thanes blindly down because he proves that he is loyal and not all soldiers are like Macbeth who backstabs for power. Macduff avenges both Duncan and his family by killing