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Why couldn't Macbeth kill Macduff?

If the question is referring to the combat between Macbeth and Macduff in the final scene of the play, then the answer is one of two things, depending on your interpretation of the play's major themes. Either Macduff was simply a better warrior and fighter than Macbeth, and therefore bested him in combat, or Macbeth was fated to die at the hands of Macduff. This seems to be Macbeth's view as soon as he finds...

If the question is referring to the combat between Macbeth and Macduff in the final scene of the play, then the answer is one of two things, depending on your interpretation of the play's major themes. Either Macduff was simply a better warrior and fighter than Macbeth, and therefore bested him in combat, or Macbeth was fated to die at the hands of Macduff. This seems to be Macbeth's view as soon as he finds out that Macduff was "not of woman born." However, if the question is referring to his intent to murder Macduff in Act IV, then the answer is simpler. As Lennox tells him in Act IV, Scene 1, Macduff has fled to England, perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall. There he is under the protection of the King of England and cannot be reached. In a sign that he has truly become a brutal, murderous tyrant, he determines to have Macduff's family killed anyway:



The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.



This horrific act is carried out in the next scene, and Macduff swears himself to revenge when he learns of it later.

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