The Porter is a minor character in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, appearing in Act 2, Scene 3. This character provides comic relief immediately following the intensely dramatic murder of King Duncan. He imagines himself the gatekeeper of hell, humorously listing the sorts of people who might be seeking entry, such as a farmer who hoarded grain during a famine and an equivocator, a subtle jab at the Jesuits and their perceived casuistry. His drunken ramblings also include bawdy jokes and commonplace observations about the effects of alcohol.
While seemingly a simple comedic interlude, the Porter’s appearance serves several dramatic functions. It allows the audience a moment to release tension after the murder. His pronouncements on sin and hell ironically underscore the gravity of Macbeth’s crime. Furthermore, the Porter’s imagery of equivocation and deceit subtly foreshadows the themes of deception and moral ambiguity that pervade the rest of the play. His drunken state also mirrors the moral intoxication Macbeth experiences as a result of his ambition.
