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Essay Comparing Macbeth And Macduff

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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 …show more content…

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

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147 Words | 1 Pages

their own father so that they could rise to higher power early. However after realizing their wrong doings they quickly fled. Macduff was very upset over the death of King Duncan and says “Duncan was a great King and was loyal to all his people. Whoever has took his precious life from him is nowhere moral and virtuous.” The King’s men say that Macduff truly loved and was devoted to the King.

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376 Words | 2 Pages

Malcolm and Macduff lead a rebellion against Macbeth to free Scotland from his tyrannical mode of rulership. Macbeth is an evil autocrat who slaughters Macduff’s family to “make assurance double sure” (iv.i.82). “Seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’th’sword/His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line” (iv.ii.150-152). Macbeth is untrustworthy of the witches and their prophecies for him, so he takes matters

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1280 Words | 6 Pages

For instance, he commits multiple murders after he gets the title of King. The murder of his own friend Banquo, the attempted murder of Banquo's son Fleance, and the murder of Macduff's family all were committed to fueling his growing obsession with maintaining his status and power. Nearing the end of the play, his determination completely takes over him and leads to his downfall. The witches give Macbeth more insight near the end of the play, communicated through visions and apparitions. The apparitions tell macbeth: “Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife.

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1234 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth was Dunsinane hero, the people consider him noble and a good man. Too much disbelief, Macbeth was manipulated by his own wife and by other outside forces. He was pushed to the brink. For Macduff, he was always a noble man. You do not read a lot about Duncan praising Macduff, but you know that Duncan trusted Macduff because Macduff looked up to Duncan very much and served him at any means.

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1895 Words | 8 Pages

The fact that the conversation even happened between Macduff and Malcolm shows Macduff’s devotion to his country and his fallen king because he made the trek away from his family and his known lands to do anything he could to bring down Macbeth. Additionally, when Macduff says “I shall do so; But I also must feel it as a man.” The “I shall do so” refers to how Malcolm thinks Macduff should react and retaliate, which is to blindly charge in and exact revenge upon his family’s murderer, and Macduff’s response displays his courage because of his willingness to exact the revenge, but it also shows his temperance in the line after when it shows how he’s in touch with his emotions and doesn’t need to make an emotional decision just because it’s how Another instance where Macduff’s admirable temperance, courage, and devotion are on display is when he is searching for Macbeth outside Dunsinane Castle, “That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! If thou be’st slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me

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1382 Words | 6 Pages

Primarily, Macduff’s inner conflict revolved around his trip to England. In doing so, he would be leaving his family defenseless, but in turn, he would be able to fight against Macbeth. This inner conflict results in Macduff leaving his family as it was more important to save Scotland which results in a better life for his family. “I pray you, school yourself; but, for your husband, He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o’ the season.” Macbeth (4.2.18-20)

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843 Words | 4 Pages

The face-off between the two concludes in Macduff’s victory where Macduff successfully kills Macbeth and ends his reign as the king. In addition, both Macbeth and Macduff are trusted by King Duncan. Since both Macbeth and Macduff are part of the Scottish army, Duncan puts significant trust in them. For instance, Duncan explicitly declares his trust in Macbeth by declaring: “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest,” (1.2.63-64). Similarly, Macduff is also trusted by King Duncan, as exemplified when Macduff

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402 Words | 2 Pages

However, since Macbeth is king of all the land opposing him would be treason. Yet Malcolm continues with his plan and forms an army that goes to attack Macbeth. Macduff ends up killing Macbeth himself. Moreover, Malcolm takes the throne for himself. Power and authority shifts once again.

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661 Words | 3 Pages

In the play Macbeth, Macduff’s balance of personal integrity and professional responsibility lead to his success of taking down Macbeth and his success as a leader. “He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows the fits o’ th’ season... But cruel are the times when we are traitors and do not ourselves”(Act IV Scene II). Macduff left to help fight against Macbeth. This shows Macduff has integrity because he is willing to leave his family for the better of the kingdom.

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427 Words | 2 Pages

In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macduff proves to be the true hero. Macduff proves to be the true hero of the play for being loyal to his country and killing Macbeth. Macbeth and Macduff differ because Macbeth is conceded and a killer, while Macduff is not. Macduff, the Thane of Fife, proves to be a loyal man when it comes to his country and his people. For example, Macduff deserts his family in order to go to England to meet with Malcolm and the king of England, so all three of them can go back to Scotland to defeat Macbeth for once and all.

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205 Words | 1 Pages

Malcolm and Macduff, two very different characters in Macbeth, are trying to overthrow Macbeth and the government but through very different motives. During the conversation between Malcolm and Macduff, Macduff tells Malcolm to, “Hold fast the mortal sword and like good men / Bestride our downfall birthdom”(4.3.3-4). Macduff wants to save the people of Scotland from this terrible tyrant ruler. He is not trying to do this to gain power for himself because he is a caring and selfless character.

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362 Words | 2 Pages

Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.” Macbeth goes out of his way in an attempt to change fate and orders the murder of Macduff’s entire family.

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537 Words | 3 Pages

67-69). Basically what he is saying is that he has a corrupted soul. However, this was a test to assert Macduff’s sincerity, to see if he is trustworthy. And later, he proves himself to be more than trustworthy when he pledges his allegiance to Malcolm and serves Macbeth’s head on a stake. In the end, he reverses the disruption of the Great Chain of Beings, bringing order back to the great nation of Scotland.

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2486 Words | 10 Pages

Macbeth was influenced by the witches and the constant berating and bullying by his wife. He allowed himself to be corrupted and coerced and finally disrupted the Great Chain of Being himself by killing the God-chosen king and replacing him with himself. Shakespeare uses this plot to demonstrate how the great chain of being was disrupted by false ambition dominating over human nature. Macduff was born of caesarian meaning the whole play of Macbeth is ironic as it takes someone who is unnaturally born to destroy Macbeth. Ultimately, Macduff restores the Great Chain of Being by killing Macbeth and presenting the “usurpers cursed head” to Malcolm, who takes his rightful place as King as the true heir to the throne.

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569 Words | 3 Pages

Macduff and Malcolm go to war against Macbeth eager for revenge. Macduff, vengeful for his family’s death cuts off Macbeths head, and Malcom takes his rightful place as king. Macbeth’s Ambition and Greed resulted in his downfall. Constantly wanting more, Macbeth allowed his blind ambition to dictate what actions he took to obtain being king and staying king.

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