Ambition is in every individual’s innate nature as one constantly looks for ways to become more powerful and increase their social and economic status. In Macbeth, author William Shakespeare explores the extreme lengths one will go to achieve their ambitions against moral and societal limitations and the resulting tragic impacts on them and their surroundings. Shakespeare utilizes imagery and symbolism to elevate and reinforce the constant feelings of guilt and ambition felt by the characters which ultimately leads to their downfall. Through blood, the crown, and the dagger, this play illustrates the destructive impact on one’s conscience when their ambition is pursued without moral boundaries.

Blood is imagery and a symbol that is utilized throughout all of Macbeth and has been shown to be closely tied to the recurrent motif of ambition and guilt often displayed by the main characters. Soon after committing murder against King Duncan, Macbeth shows signs of guilt and regret for his immoral actions as a result of his unquenchable ambition. He says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather/The multitudinous seas incarnadine,/Making the green one red.” (Shakespeare II, ii, 77-80). The powerful imagery in this scene reveals much of Macbeth’s internal struggle to cope with his guilt. He implies that his deed, the blood on his hand, is as permanent as the mark on his conscience; even all water in the sea would not wash his hands clean as his sin is so great such that instead it would stain the sea red. It is evident that Macbeth has very quickly realized the severity of his action and how the weight of his sin will follow him for the remains of his life and hereafter. Moreover, during the middle of the play Macbeth is haunted by the crime he has committed. He says “And with thy bloody and invisible hand/Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond/Which keeps me pale!” (Shakespeare III, ii, 53-55). This quote