Chiasmus (in MacBeth)

“Chiasmus” is a rhetorical technique (notably in the play “MacBeth”) that suggests a “crossing of paths.” This type of criss-cross structure is used to show an inverse relationship when comparing two things – in this case, two characters: Lady MacBeth and MacBeth. In “MacBeth,” the “chiasmus” structure is a term that Professor Little attributed to the contrasting characters of Lady MacBeth and MacBeth, who move towards inverse characterizations, i.e. immorality and morality, respectively.

Lady MacBeth starts out in the play as being immoral. She is an enabler and a catalyst in inspiring her husband MacBeth to kill King Duncan. With aspirations for her husband and her to assume the throne (thus needing to eliminate King Duncan), Lady MacBeth chides MacBeth and persuades him into “doing the deed,” by telling him: “Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o' the milk of human kindness…that which cries ‘Thus thou must do’…which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal.” (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 16-29). She says: “I may pour my spirits in thine ear; and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round,” meaning that she will convince MacBeth to get rid of any guilt that hinders him from attaining the “golden round” (crown). She is presented early on as corrupting MacBeth by convincing him to kill King Duncan, even arguing that in doing so, MacBeth seems to have the favor of fate and the supernatural. Yet, as the play progresses, Lady MacBeth becomes more moral, with her moral conscience bearing guilt for what she had done. This is seen as Lady MacBeth expresses her guilt for her conspiracy in Act 5, Scene 1, lines 35-40: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!...”.

MacBeth, on the other hand, moves from morality to immorality. It is this inverse progression (when compared to that of Lady MacBeth) that creates the “chiasmus”. MacBeth at first struggles with the decision to kill King Duncan, but later is quick to kill MacDuff’s family without the convincing of Lady MacBeth. In self-proclamation, MacBeth says he is able to “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t,” suggesting the deterioration of his moral conscience.

I think this technique is the type of term that might appear on the ID section of the midterm. An easy way to remember what this term means is by remembering it is a Greek term with the root being “Chi-” represented by the Greek letter X, suggesting a criss-cross pattern. Professor Little drew a diagram on the board which had basically 4 corners, and an “X” symbol in the middle, connecting Lady MacBeth (upper left) with an arrow diagonally downward representing progression towards morality (lower right), and MacBeth (lower left) with an arrow diagonally upward representing progression towards immorality. Simply put, Lady MacBeth goes towards morality as the play progresses, and inversely, MacBeth goes towards immorality. “Chiasmus” is a term to portray this crossing of paths.

Kevin Yee
Waldo, Dis 1D