Macduff vs. Macbeth: a True Case of Good vs. Evil?
Macduff vs. Macbeth:
A True Instance of Good vs. Evil?
At the end of the play Macbeth, Macduff kills Macbeth in a scene easily read as the victory of good over evil, but is this accurate? Is Macbeth completely evil? Is Macduff completely good? Or is there an in between? I believe that Macduff is good, but there is definitely an in-between with Macbeth. I see Macduff as being a good person. He does everything he can to improve the state that Scotland is in. When he flees to England and leaves his family behind, some people may interpret it as him doing bad since his family is slaughtered in his absence. I do not see it this way. I believe Macduff is doing what he thinks is best for Scotland when he flees to England. That is to get Malcolm to come back and take his rightful place as king of Scotland.
This is evident when Macduff is in England talking to Malcolm. Malcolm says “let us seek out some desolate shade, and there/weep our sad bosoms empty” (4.3:1-2, Page 70). Basically, he is feels sorry for the state into which Scotland has fallen since Macbeth has become king. To this Macduff replies “Let us rather hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our down-fall’n birthdom” (4.3:3-4, Page 71). This translates to “let us rather hold fast the deadly sword, and like good men protectively stand over our native land.” Basically what Macduff is trying to say is that instead of crying for Scotland, they should fight for their land to bring her back to the state they knew and loved.
Further on into this same conversation, there is further proof that Macduff was seen as good. He tells Malcolm “I am not treacherous” to which Malcolm replies “but Macbeth is” 4.3:18-19, Page 71). This also goes toward the argument of Macbeth being evil. He is seen as treacherous and a tyrant. He brings sadness to Scotland. Macduff says that “each new morn/New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrow/Strike heaven on the face” (4.3: 4-6, Page 71).
A True Instance of Good vs. Evil?
At the end of the play Macbeth, Macduff kills Macbeth in a scene easily read as the victory of good over evil, but is this accurate? Is Macbeth completely evil? Is Macduff completely good? Or is there an in between? I believe that Macduff is good, but there is definitely an in-between with Macbeth. I see Macduff as being a good person. He does everything he can to improve the state that Scotland is in. When he flees to England and leaves his family behind, some people may interpret it as him doing bad since his family is slaughtered in his absence. I do not see it this way. I believe Macduff is doing what he thinks is best for Scotland when he flees to England. That is to get Malcolm to come back and take his rightful place as king of Scotland.
This is evident when Macduff is in England talking to Malcolm. Malcolm says “let us seek out some desolate shade, and there/weep our sad bosoms empty” (4.3:1-2, Page 70). Basically, he is feels sorry for the state into which Scotland has fallen since Macbeth has become king. To this Macduff replies “Let us rather hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our down-fall’n birthdom” (4.3:3-4, Page 71). This translates to “let us rather hold fast the deadly sword, and like good men protectively stand over our native land.” Basically what Macduff is trying to say is that instead of crying for Scotland, they should fight for their land to bring her back to the state they knew and loved.
Further on into this same conversation, there is further proof that Macduff was seen as good. He tells Malcolm “I am not treacherous” to which Malcolm replies “but Macbeth is” 4.3:18-19, Page 71). This also goes toward the argument of Macbeth being evil. He is seen as treacherous and a tyrant. He brings sadness to Scotland. Macduff says that “each new morn/New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrow/Strike heaven on the face” (4.3: 4-6, Page 71).