Origin
Shakespeare based Macbeth in part upon the narratives of King Duff and King Duncan in Holinshed's Chronicles (1587). Macduff first appears in Holinshed's narrative of King Duncan after Macbeth has killed the monarch and reigned as King of Scotland for 10 years. When Macbeth calls upon his nobles to contribute to the construction of Dunsinane castle, Macduff avoids the summons, arousing Macbeth's suspicions. Macduff leaves Scotland for England to prod Duncan's son, Malcolm, into taking the Scottish throne by force. Meanwhile, Macbeth murders Macduff's family. Malcolm, Macduff, and the English forces march on Macbeth, and Macduff kills him. Shakespeare follows Holinshed's account of Macduff closely, with his only deviations being Macduff's discovery of Duncan's body in 2.3, and Macduff's brief conference with Ross in 2.4. Historically, the Clan MacDuff was the most powerful family in Fife in the medieval ages. The ruins of Macduff's Castle lie in East Wemyss cemetery.
Read more about this topic: Macduff (Macbeth)
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