Grey Clawson
B. Vogt
AP Literature
January 12 2010
Character Development Essay
Throughout Shakespeare’s tragic drama, Macbeth, there exists many forces of
good in the action of the play. Macduff is one of the protagonists, working for the greater
good of his homeland. Macduff does not like the conflicts taking place with Macbeth in
power and works to restore peace to the throne. At the beginning of the drama, Macduff
is but a minor character. As the play progresses, Macduff blooms into a heroic man who
works for the overall welfare and general good of his country.
As Macbeth becomes more powerful and more evil, Macduff does the opposite;
he looks out for the kingdom and works to restore the throne to its righteous heir.
Macbeth and Macduff are foil characters in this tragic drama. This is shown through
many different counterpart scenes of the play.
The relationship between these two characters is ironic beyond belief. One
example of this is when Macbeth orders his men to kill Macduff’s family. While
Macbeth may take Macduff’s family, Macduff takes Macbeth’s throne from him.
Macduff taking Macbeth’s life at the end of the play is the magnum opus example
of the characters being foil characters. While Macbeth is the representation of all evil,
Macduff is the opposite, the last bit of decency left in the kingdom. This is also an ironic
moment in the drama.
Macduff’s character grows and progresses as the play continues. At first he is just
a common man but eventually works to become a great warrior who overthrew the evil
king. Macduff’s character is a perfect example of a common man becoming a hero.