Macbeth is the definitive story of a struggle between the forces of good and evil. It tells the story of a tragic hero whose quest for power leads to his ultimate downfall. Macbeth begins as an honorable warrior but changes when his ambition becomes uncontrollable. As he becomes increasingly paranoid, Macbeth uses violent means to eliminate threats to his Scottish throne. As the show progresses, blood continually plays a role in events as murders become more frequent. William Shakespeare, the author of Macbeth, uses blood imagery to develop Macbeth's character, create a contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and to symbolize honor and guilt. The imagery of blood serves as a device to develop Macbeth's character throughout the play. In the play, Macbeth is an honorable, courageous, courageous and just man. However, after hearing the witches' prophecies, Macbeth becomes overcome with ambition. Macbeth's unbridled ambition overrides his morals and drives him to commit murder even though he knows it is wrong. It pushes Macbeth to become paranoid, brutal, and mentally insane. Just before killing Duncan, Macbeth sees a dagger in his hand when drops of blood appear on the dagger. However, he is not so far gone that he doesn't know what is happening to him. He himself states, “There is no such thing: / It is the bloody affair that informs / So in my sight” (2.1.47-49). Macbeth becomes so obsessed with Duncan's murder that he wonders if he is seeing things. His obsession leads to his mental instability which progressively worsens with the number of murders Macbeth commits to secure power. When Macbeth is later crowned king, he is tormented by the possibility of Banquo's sons being on the throne and... middle of paper... n as a flaw, but does nothing to stop it. The changes in Macbeth's character provide ample contrast throughout the play as the once honorable Macbeth transforms into a murderous tyrant. This negative change leads to Macbeth's final downfall. Even though Macbeth was written hundreds of years ago, the power play between good and evil in Macbeth still resonates with readers today. Works Cited Hazlitt, William. "Macbeth Characters." Ed. Robert S. Miola. Macbeth. New York: WWNorton, 2004. 220-29. Print.Shakespeare, William. “Macbeth.” Ed. Janet Allen, et al. British literature. Evanston: McDougalLittell, 2009. 340-423. Print.Spurgeon, Caroline FE Shakespeare's images and what they tell us. Cambridge: UP, 1935.Print.Thrasher, Thomas E. “The Characters of Macbeth.” Understanding Macbeth. San Diego: Lucent, 2002. 71-82. Press. Understanding great literature.