"Chiasmus" in Macbeth

The term "chiasmus" applies to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth near the climax of the play. Chiasmus is an inversion of sorts, in this case the reversal of roles that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth play. Professor Little described it as one character moving away from "conscienceness" while the other moves toward it. He drew a diagram of an "X," using the middle to signify the conscience, and had Macbeth start at the top and descend while Lady Macbeth started at the bottom and ascended toward "conscienceness." This symbolizes the way Macbeth was initially a moral character in that he had no thirst for the crown, and was the innocent Thane of Glamis. His conscience eventually declines, however, when Lady Macbeth convinces him to usurp the throne. On the other hand, we first see Lady Macbeth with intentions to make her husband King. The point where her conscience kicks in is in Act II Scene iii when there is a knock at her and Macbeth's door after Macbeth has just killed Duncan. This knocking freezes the play and gives Lady Macbeth an opportunity to stop and think about what they've done. Her moral questions/conscience are ignited, and she begins to climb the ladder of "conscienceness."

-Vanessa Labi (Aaron Gorelik 1F)