Macduff killed Macbeth for several reasons rooted in both personal and broader moral motives. Firstly, Macduff sought revenge for the murder of his family. In a cruel act orchestrated by Macbeth, Macduff’s wife and children were brutally slain due to his defection from Macbeth’s rule. This personal loss ignited a fierce rage within Macduff, driving him to confront and ultimately kill Macbeth.
Moreover, Macduff represented the embodiment of virtue and justice in the play. While Macbeth had succumbed to tyranny and moral corruption after seizing the throne through murder, Macduff’s actions symbolized the restoration of order and righteousness. By killing Macbeth, Macduff was not only avenging his family but also liberating Scotland from Macbeth’s oppressive reign, which had been backed by dark prophecies and treachery.
In a climactic battle, Macbeth’s arrogance and reliance on the witches’ prophecies ultimately led to his downfall. Macduff, who was ‘from his mother’s womb untimely ripped’ (born via C-section), defied the witches’ predictions and fulfilled his role in ending Macbeth’s tyranny. Thus, Macduff’s act of killing Macbeth was both a personal revenge and a necessary action for the greater good of Scotland.