Ambition can both make a person achieve things wonderful and beyond one's natural abilities, and also have the power to corrupt and completely alter one's sense of reality and morality. No where is this shown better and more apparent than in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The main theme of the play is the destruction that is brought about when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints and is allowed to grow into an uncontrollable force of devastation. Ambition, in the play, is shown and reflected through the reoccurring image and motif of blood either in an honorable situation, which is more common in Macbeth's early virtuousness and incorruptibility, or in a disturbing show of self-destructive and amoral character and behavior later in his experience. .
The first display of ambition in the play is an extremely positive and honorable display among honorable men. This early sign is greatly exemplified by the image of blood. It is first touched upon in the second scene of the play when a hurt and mangled man rides up to King Duncan to report the state of a great warrior and the protagonist of the play, Macbeth. The King exclaims, "What bloody man is that? He can report, as seemeth by his plight, of the revolt the newest state." (1, 2, 1-3) The blood that masks this man's body is a sign of courage and bravery in war and allegiance to the King. Even though this man is and can be assumed to be in a great deal of pain he is ambitious in his serving the King and his cause. Blood shows the willingness to sacrifice oneself for a just cause, to have the ambition and desire to stay strong and steady in life and philosophy. Blood represents the deep seeded and ingrained ambition in good strong men in these tough times in Scotland. Blood represents a harrowing and powerful force that runs in the men of the play. This theme is also shown or reflected upon through battle: ambition for victory, ambition for pride, and ambition for a cause.
