macduff

• "o horror! Horror! Horror!"


  • Macduff discovers Duncan's dead body in Macbeth's castle
  • repetition - genuine shock shows how he is loyal to Duncan
  • Contrast to Macbeth's rehearsed speech
• " O gentle lady" 


  • Macduff doesn't want to tell Lady Macbeth about Duncan's death as she is a women
  • Underestimates Lady Macbeth
• " Denies his person"


  • Macbeth get suspicious of Macduff when he refuses to come to the feast
  • Macduff is the first to detect Macbeth's antagonism
• "leave his wife and babes"

  • Lady Macduff is angry because Macduff left them to go to England to rise an army with Malcolm
  • he chooses patriotism and his duty over his family
  • He's selfless - tried to save everyone but paid the worst price
• "he's a traitor"


  • the murderers sent to kill Lady Macduff and her family in their family in their castle, insult the missing Macduff
  • ironic
  • Technically he is a traitor as he works against Macbeth but for the rightful king Malcolm
• "Bleed, bleed poor country"


  • Macduff is upset and angry with Malcolm because he lies to him. He thinks Scotland has no good king.
  • personifies Scotland - passionate about his country
  • patriotic - he loves his country
• "my children too?...

  My wife killed too?...

  Sinfull Macduff, they where all struck for thee"


  • Macduff learns that his family has been killed while he's been in England by macbeth's murderers
  • repetition of questions - shows he's shocked and can't process it
  • he blames himself, juxtaposition to Macbeth's reaction to lady Macbeth dying
• "My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me" 


  • in final battle at Dunsinane, Macduff is desperate to find Macbeth and kill him
  • Desperate for revenge, he feels guilty for the deaths of his family even though it wasn't his fault
• "Turn, hell-hound! Turn!"


  • Macduff finds Macbeth after the battle of Duncinane has been won by Malcolm army
  • imperative verbs - he's in control
  • Symbolic for consequences of his actions, and crimes
• " then yield thee, coward"

  • Macduff gets Macbeth to fight to fight by insulting him
  • cunning as he uses Macbeth's arrogance against him, to get Macbeth to fight
• "Hail king! For so thou art " 


  • Macduff gives Macbeth's head to Malcolm and pronounces him king
  • mirrors the start of the play
  • loyal soldier kills traitor - difference is that he has no ambition just loyalty