The Aspects of Evil and Kills in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

During Shakespeares play Macbeth many characters hold different attributes. The aspect of evil is given, with the example of the witches and the final product of Macbeths crimes, that lead him into being the most evil character of all. When evil characters are present in a play, there is almost always a counter part or counter parts that have the opposite attributes.

There are characters that represent good and nobility in the play. In the play Macbeth our main character has a counter part named MacDuff that eventually in the end leads to his death. MacDuff is the character that plays the role of the most noble of characters, who is not afraid to show emotion, in the play.

In the beginning of the play King Duncan is introduced. He is loved and admired by everyone and is a true image of what a king is supposed to be. Duncan is the only character in the play that would arguably be as noble of a person towards his country as MacDuff. Duncan places great responsibility and trust on MacDuff who is also known as the Thane of Fife. Duncans trust for MacDuff is first seen when he is the one that is called to wake him after the celebration at Iverness.

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We also see that Duncan and MacDuff must have been in close company when MacDuffs reaction to Duncans murder is seen.. Having Duncan, who is one of Gods deputys on earth, utmost respect and trust shows that MacDuff is indeed a noble and trust worthy man.

Throughout the play MacDuff shows that he is not afraid nor ashamed to show emotion, even if the emotion is stereotypically not one that a man would show. The first time MacDuffs emotional side is shown is when he enters the kings chamber to find his bloody corps.

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!

Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope

The Lords anointed temple, and stole thence

The life o the building!

In this quote MacDuff is screaming to everyone about Duncans murder, just one of the times he openly expresses his feelings. When he is brought the information of his familys murder, without hesitation MacDuff begins to cry in front of everyone who is present.

Malcolm says to MacDuff:

Dispute it like a man when MacDuff is mourning.

MacDuff then replies:

I shall do so;

But I must also feel it as a man;

In this scene Malcolm is telling MacDuff not to be sad, but rather to get mad about what has happened and avenge his familys murder but MacDuff states that he must mourn before he can fight. In that time crying was viewed as being week and an emotion of a woman. This however had no affect on how MacDuff expressed himself.

MacDuffs suspicious of Macbeth are first seen when it is announced that Macbeth will be king and all the Thanes are going to his coronation. MacDuff does not go to the coronation, which is an outright defiance towards Macbeth and also voices his opinion on the matter to Ross when he says:

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new.

Comparing the old robes to Duncan and the new to Macbeth. After this MacDuff completely turns his back on MacBeth. Not only does he not go to the banquet that MacBeth is hosting for his Thanes but flees the country in an attempt to get Malcolm to over throw MacBeth and claim the throne. When doing this MaDuff not only turns his back on MacBeth but also on his own family. He leaves his wife and children at Fife unprotected so he can try and save his country from the evil king MacBeth. This shows he will do anything no matter what the cost, for his country. In MacDuffs absence his family is murdered by the doing of Macbeth. MacDuff is then set of avenging his familys murder by being the one who strikes the final blow on Macbeth and he says this:

If thou best slain and with no stroke of mine,

My wife and childrens ghosts will haunt me still.

MacDuff is the one who eventually kills Macbeth and puts Malcolm in his rightful spot on the thrown. MacDuff was successful in restoring order to his chaotic country.

During the play MacDuff played Macbeths complete counter part. MacDuffs emotions grew throughout that play while Macbeths emotions eventually withered away to nothing. MacDuff played to role of the hero and the one who saved his country from Macbeths evil rain. MacDuff stopped at nothing to stay noble to his country and to see that Scotland flourished in a time where it seemed impossible for that to happen. In the end it was MacDuffs courage and nobility that lead to the restoration of the thrown to its rightful possessor. MacDuff proved that he was in fact the most noble person to his county, in the play.

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