Macbeth, a Shakespearean tragedy about overgrowing pride and ambition, exhibits a theme of loss, and how each individual handles it in their own unique way. Even though Shakespeare demonstrates this through many characters, there is one which stands out remarkably: Macduff. Macduff is an intriguing character in this play, because he is the foil character of the protagonist, and yet we still root for him, due to Macbeth's harm inflicted upon Macduff which grows over the course of the play. After Macduff experiences separation from his friends, family, and king, he gains the emotional courage required to make everything right.
In act II, scene III, Macduff unfortunately is the one to discover the body of King Duncan, and clearly grieves heavily …show more content…
Initially, he claims that he has two possible suspects: Malcolm and Donalbain; but there is evidence to suggest that he actually has an early suspicion of Macbeth. Macduff is the ONLY person who questions Macbeth’s statement that he slayed the guards. This reveals that his separation from his King gave him the emotional courage to create a personal obligation for justice, and a conviction to identify the murderer - which is why he would instantly start questioning suspicious behavior, such as Macbeth's execution of the guards. Later on, in act II, scene IV, Macduff meets up with Ross and discusses the tragedy of the kings murder. When Ross asks if he is going to go to the coronation, Macduff says no. This undoubtedly reveals that Macduff distrusts …show more content…
This loss is the last straw for Macduff: he begs Heaven itself to bring him face-to-face with Macbeth, “within his sword’s length” so he can “kill the fiend of Scotland.” These heroic lines demonstrate how Macduff’s separation from his family gave him so much emotional courage that a strong passion for vindication was created, which forces him to inflict justice on the tyrant. This urge becomes so strong, that in act V, scene VII, Macduff declares that ” If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.” His commitment to this task reveals just how much the loss of his family means to him, and its effect on his emotional
In act II, scene III, Macduff unfortunately is the one to discover the body of King Duncan, and clearly grieves heavily …show more content…
Initially, he claims that he has two possible suspects: Malcolm and Donalbain; but there is evidence to suggest that he actually has an early suspicion of Macbeth. Macduff is the ONLY person who questions Macbeth’s statement that he slayed the guards. This reveals that his separation from his King gave him the emotional courage to create a personal obligation for justice, and a conviction to identify the murderer - which is why he would instantly start questioning suspicious behavior, such as Macbeth's execution of the guards. Later on, in act II, scene IV, Macduff meets up with Ross and discusses the tragedy of the kings murder. When Ross asks if he is going to go to the coronation, Macduff says no. This undoubtedly reveals that Macduff distrusts …show more content…
This loss is the last straw for Macduff: he begs Heaven itself to bring him face-to-face with Macbeth, “within his sword’s length” so he can “kill the fiend of Scotland.” These heroic lines demonstrate how Macduff’s separation from his family gave him so much emotional courage that a strong passion for vindication was created, which forces him to inflict justice on the tyrant. This urge becomes so strong, that in act V, scene VII, Macduff declares that ” If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, my wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.” His commitment to this task reveals just how much the loss of his family means to him, and its effect on his emotional