The Essential Macduff in Macbeth As in all (or most) of Shakespeare's plays, there is always a hero who overcomes the supernatural forces of evil. Macduff is this essential character in this play. His loyalty and patriotism towards his dear country Scotland is more excessive unlike other Scottish nobles, Macduff was devastated by the murder of his dear king and also somewhat sacrificed his family for his country. These three transactions add up to a truly admirable hero. The conflict of forces is reflected in the character of Macduff. Duncan's murder is discovered by his loyal supporter Macduff. It is the intensity of his devotion to the king that brings him to the castle at the very moment of the murder and makes him the first to see the corpse, "the Lord's anointed temple" (Act II, scene 3, 67) as he calls it. If Macduff's loyalty had been supported by a matching force, he might have arrived in time to save Duncan. But while Duncan displays goodness and virtue without sufficient power to maintain his rule, Macduff's capacity for pure loyalty is not combined with the strength needed to express it. When he travels to England soon after in support of Duncan's son Malcolm, his wife and children are left murdered by Macbeth. His personality does not have the energy to support both commitments of his loyal heart. In expressing his loyalty to the deceased king he ignores his equally great commitment to protecting his family. Macduff returns from the scene of Duncan's murder crying "O horror, horror, horror!" (Act II, Scene 3, 63) The response of the other gentlemen is revealing. Lennox simply asks "Do you mean, Your Majesty?" (Act II, scene 3, 70), no more. The king's sons arrive. Donalbain is silent. Malcolm says "Oh, from who?" (Act II, Scene 3, 100) With the exception of Macduff, there is no expression of horror, indignation or grief from those present. In the interview with Lady Macduff, Ross describes her husband as "noble, wise, judicious" (Act IV, Scene 2, 16) one who "knows best the vagaries of the season" (Act IV, Scene 2, 17). Why then did Macduff leave his wife and family unprotected? Perhaps there was a conflict of loyalty between love of country and love of family in his heart; Realist though he was, Macduff may not have believed that Macbeth would stoop to such brutality and wickedness as the murder of women and children..