Final answer:
The climax is the moment of greatest tension in 'Macbeth,' serving as the main showdown and the turning point where significant change occurs, leading to the resolution of the conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The moment of greatest tension in the play 'Macbeth' is referred to as the climax. The climax is the peak of the action, the main showdown, and the central event where the conflict reaches its highest point of tension. At this turning point, events or a character undergoes a significant change, leading toward the resolution of the conflict. This occurs after the rising action, which fully develops the conflict with a series of events that build up the tension and engage the audience. Consequently, the climax leads to the falling action, where the story begins to wind down and the characters come away changed from the experience, often wiser.