Macduff

Macduff is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. He holds the title of Thane of Fife, a Scottish nobleman who is initially portrayed as a loyal subject of King Duncan.

After Duncan's murder, Macduff becomes suspicious of Macbeth and refuses to acknowledge him as king, aligning with those who oppose the usurper. The massacre of Macduff's wife and children on Macbeth's orders further fuels his resolve to overthrow Macbeth. He travels to England to seek aid from Malcolm and the English crown, raising forces to challenge Macbeth's rule.

Macduff returns to Scotland with Malcolm and the English army and defeats Macbeth in the final confrontation. He kills Macbeth in single combat, fulfilling a key set of prophecies that frame Macbeth's downfall. He also reveals that he was "from his mother's womb untimely ripped," meaning he was born by cesarean section and therefore not "born of a woman" in the ordinary sense, a detail that enables him to defeat Macbeth.

In the play, Macduff functions as the voice of justice and legitimate leadership, contrasting with Macbeth's ambition and tyranny. His actions help restore order to Scotland and uphold the moral order asserted by the tragedy. The character has been interpreted in various productions and adaptations, but remains central to the work's themes of loyalty, justice, and retribution.