This comparison covers The Inversion in One Table within Lady Macbeth (character) for GCSE English Literature. Revise Lady Macbeth (character) in Macbeth for GCSE English Literature with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 8 of 16 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚖️ The Inversion in One Table
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth move in opposite directions. As his resolve hardens, hers fragments — and the crossover is Act 3.
| Act | Lady Macbeth | Macbeth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dominant: commands spirits, plans the murder, controls the dialogue | Wavering: soliloquies of doubt, names his own "vaulting ambition" |
| 2 | Calm: "a little water clears us of this deed" | Shattered: "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood…?" |
| 3 | Sidelined: kept from Banquo's murder ("dearest chuck"); reduced to covering at banquet | Ascendant: plans murders alone, "in blood / Stepped in so far" |
| 4 | Absent — given no scenes | Sole agent: returns to witches, orders Macduff family killed |
| 5 | Broken: sleepwalking in prose, guilt surfaces as stain; dies offstage | Numb: "She should have died hereafter"; "Tomorrow" soliloquy |
Practice questions for Lady Macbeth (character)
Which of the following is a famous quotation spoken by Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 5?
Identify ONE technique Shakespeare uses in Lady Macbeth's invocation ("Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here") and explain its effect on the audience. [2 marks]