“To know my deed, twere best not know myself.” (2.2.92) Another death caused by Macbeth was the murder of Macduff's family. Macduff was a nobleman who had suspicions about Macbeth's true intentions. He decided he would go to England to speak with Malcom, King Duncan's eldest son. Together they shared opinions about Macbeth's tyranny over Scotland.
Did Macduff have a choice to leave his family or was it fate that he was to dethrone
While at first filled with shock, he couldn't help the next treacherous feeling that it was all his fault. " Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee." Malcolm used this as a chance to strengthen Macduff, " Dispute it like a man, let grief convert to anger." Malcolm wants Macduff to use his pain in battle, instead of sulking, use it for revenge.
In the beginning of the scene, Macduff’s wife is having a conversation with Ross about Macduff’s flee from Scotland. After Ross leaves the scene, Macduff’s wife tells her son that his father is dead. The two go on about what they’ll do and how they’ll live since Macduff is gone (Shakespeare 4.2.1-61). She sees the escape of Macduff as a lack of love for the family and an act of a coward. As their conversation develops, she speaks of her husband in a nonchalant manner like he no longer means anything to her.
He is both stunned and inquires as to whether his whole family has been murdered or if, by some marvel, one or more may have gotten away from. MacDuff has understood that Macbeth is terrible news. He has been telling Malcolm of the misery of the country. MacDuff does not consider until the last moment when Ross comes in with the news of his family that MacDuff was leaving his family totally exposed against a despot who will remain absolutely determined to get what he needs. As an aftereffect of his leaving Scotland, his family has been yielded.
In the book, Macbeth receives harsh news, news that strikes fear into his heart. Macduff receives similar news, though the two each process and deal with their fear in different ways, one as a coward, another as a man. In the end, they are met with very different outcomes. A man should always process fear not only with bravery, but with emotion. Macbeth processes his fear very differently from Macduff, in a way which causes him to cower behind his power,
“If Macduff wants a fight, then he shall receive one. After all, I was the cause for the death for his family.” Macbeth turned, letting off an irritated sigh. “I refuse to be one who shies away from the pleasures of suicide, no matter how noble it may be.”
Without any warning, Macduff abandoned his family to pursue Malcolm to dethrone Macbeth. Even though they did not conspire with Macduff, Macbeth murdered them because of their relationship. Macduff doesn’t place the blame on Macbeth, but on himself for leaving his family vulnerable. He is under the impression that he is the cause of their death. Despite being disheartened at losing his loved ones, he uses his feelings of remorse to fuel his vengeance.
Through deciding to help and encourage Macbeth to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth plays a role in the most pivotal scene of the play, causing her to be set on a path that she can’t come back from, ultimately sealing her fate. Malcolm and Macduff also begin to suffer at the hands of Macbeth. As a result of killing people mercilessly out of fear, Macbeth harms the families of both men, forcing them to revolt. As Act Five comes to an end, Macduff confronts Macbeth: “That way the noise is, Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghost will haunt me still” (page 183).
Yet he is still infuriated because Macduff fled to get Malcolm and Donalbain to help him get rid of him. In reaction he sends murderers to kill Macduff’s family in act 4 scene 3. This was the start of his undoing. Macduff arrives to Malcolm and succeeds in convincing him to help him rid of Macbeth then the prophecies start to come true. Macduff is coming to kill Macbeth.
Not only does it create sympathy, but it also shapes Macbeth's character. It causes him to appear as ruthless and out of control, since he murdered an innocent family that had kids. As well, the deaths of the family shaped Macduff. When he finds out about the death of his family, he appears vastly distraught and upset; however, he finds himself encouraged to turn those feelings into anger against Macbeth and use it as encouragement to end him, which he ends up doing at the end of the play. So, Macduff's family has little scenes but still manages to advance the plot and shape
While none of Shakespeare's great tragedies can be called cheery,” (David Boyles)Then, the question of madness and if MacDuff has gone crazy to leave or has be become a traitor seems to suggest MacDuff
Lady Macduff’s emotions change from confused to scared for her own life. In the beginning of the act she asks questions such as, “What had he done to make him fly the land?” (4.2.1). She is confused by the fact that her husband fled as that is a sign of cowardness and betrayal. Although as the scene goes on, we read that Lady Macduff gets a message that basically states that someone is out to kill her.
Macbeth, however, seems to only take the message that he wants to hear from each one. This results in his downfall, for he does not see beneath the mask of the witches trickery; he is blinded by his current state as powerful king, and presumes he will stay that way. The murder of Macduff’s family represents the final stage of Macbeth’s corruption. No longer does Macbeth feel guilt or shame of any kind when performing the deadliest of sins, as he sentences the family to death simply because Macduff fled from Macbeth’s ruling; From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be
Macduff went to England to find Malcolm, King Duncan’s son, who fled Scotland so he would not be killed like his father. Macbeth no longer considers Macduff loyal to him and becomes apprehensive. Macbeth consorts with the murderers again to kill Macduff’s family, “give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (Act 4, Scene 1). When a messenger comes to deliver the news to Macduff, he becomes sad but Malcolm tells him “… Let grief convert to anger…” (Act 4, Scene 3).
