Two important themes in the play Macbeth are that power corrupts good morals and that unchecked ambition leads to destruction. Shakespeare uses Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show how power corrupts good morals; and motives to illustrate the self-punishment of crime. From the beginning of the play until his death, Macbeth's character changes drastically. At first he is seen as an honorable man, but becomes a paranoid and power-hungry man. Lady Macbeth had a huge influence on Macbeth's corruption. His lust for power impacted Macbeth in several ways. Both characters were overcome by uncontrolled ambition and a lust for power. Before the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth was a brave and noble warrior. “For brave Macbeth, he well deserves this name… Until he unhears him from the nave to the end and fixes his head on our battlements” (Act I, scene 2, lines 2). He was one of the last people expected to kill King Duncan. Shakespeare chooses a noble character such as Macbeth to emphasize how greed and power can alter a person's good morals. In the first act we begin to see Macbeth's desire for more power increase. “Stars, hide your fires; Let no light see my deep, dark desires. The eye winks at the dog, but whatever the eye fears, when it has finished seeing” (Act I, scene 4, lines 52-55). His desire for power is at war with his good morals. He wants to become king but doesn't want to kill Duncan. Macbeth still has good in him before he commits his first murder. His constant struggle to decide whether he will kill the king shows that he still has a conscience. He believes that Duncan is a good leader and that as the king's man, he is supposed to protect Duncan. Macbeth, in this part of the play, is too virtuous to betray him in this way. He is also afraid of...... middle of paper...... must put himself in the place of another and many others; the pains and pleasures of his species must become his own” (Percy Bysshe Shelley). Shakespeare teaches a good lesson with the life of Macbeth. If you let your ambition take precedence over your morality, it will only lead to destruction. Works CitedBeers, Kylene. Elements of literature. Austin, [Tex. : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2010.Gerwig, George William. “Lady Macbeth.” Shakespeare's ideals of femininity. EastAurora, NY: The Roycroft Shops, 1929. 133-150. Rep. in Shakespearean criticism. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Flight. 69. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Library Resources. Internet. February 16, 2011. Jorgensen, Paul A. “Chapter 8: Macbeth.” William Shakespeare: The Tragedies. Paul A. Jorgensen. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1985. Twayne's English Authors Series 415. Gale Literary Resources. Internet. February 18. 2011.