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How are Macduff and his family important to the play Macbeth?

Macduff is important to the plot because he is the one who eventually kills Macbeth. His family is important because Macbeth sent the murderers that killed Macduff's family. This was one of Macduff's motivations to fight Macbeth.

Macbeth believed Macduff suspected Macbeth had killed Duncan. By this time, Macbeth was getting very paranoid. With hired murderers, Macbeth killed Banquo and tried to kill Banquo's son Fleance. Macbeth did not stop there. He sent the assassins to the Macduff house, where they killed his family.


When Macduff finds out, he is overcome with grief. He tells Malcolm, who tells him that he needs to be a man.



MACDUFF


… All my pretty ones?
Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?


MALCOLM


Dispute it like a man.


MACDUFF


I shall do so;
But I must also feel it as a man:
I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me (Act 4, Scene 3). 



Basically, Malcolm is telling Macduff that instead of crying over his family, he should avenge their deaths. Macduff is supporting Malcolm, the king’s heir, who left when his father died but also raised an army to fight Macbeth. Macduff figures he has his best chance of defeating Macbeth by aligning with them. 


Macduff is important because the witches told Macbeth that no man born of woman could kill him. Macbeth interprets that to mean he is invincible. He learns that this prophecy, like the others, is tricky. Macduff gives Macbeth some surprising news as they fight:



MACBETH


… I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,
To one of woman born.


MACDUFF


Despair thy charm;
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripp'd. (Act 5, Scene 8) 



Macduff was born by Caesarian section, so he is technically not born of woman. After this, Macbeth sort of loses his confidence. It is fairly easy for Macduff to behead him, therefore ending Macbeth’s reign of terror and proving you should not always listen to prophecies.

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