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We know that Duncan is dead and must soon be discovered. The comic interlude with the Porter delays that discovery. We want to know what will happen when the murder is discovered and the scene postpones that knowledge, creating suspense. Of course, the real reason for the scene is to give the actors playing the Macbeths a chance to change and clean up. Some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes are for just such practical purposes.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt is hilariously funny. Bear in mind that one member of Shakespeare's acting company was a clown who expected to be given a funny scene in every play, even a tragedy. So here it is.
It is a sign of Shakespeare's greatness that he writes this scene to happen just after the Macbeths have stabbed Duncan to death. Macduff and Lennox are knocking at the door, and the Porter, who is pissed to the gills, staggers to the door to let them in. As he does so, he imagines he is the Porter of Hell, and he is welcoming in a farmer that killed himself after over-borrowing, a professional perjuror, and a crooked tailor. Not so funny, you say? Just wait. He finally lets in the irate Lords, who have been knocking their knuckles off, and tells them that he has been drinking all night and that drink provokes three things. What three things? "Marry sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine. Lechery sir, it provokes and unprovokes: it provokes the desire but takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off; it persuades him and disheartens him; it makes him stand to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and giving him the lie, leaves him." It is recommended that the actor playing the porter make use of an arm, a finger, a sword or other similarly shaped object during this speech and alternate between holding it upright, stiff and erect, and letting it dangle limp and flaccid. He might want to simulate vomiting while saying "leaves him".
The scene concludes with the Porter comparing his engagement with the bottle to a Wrestling match: the drink was able to trip up his legs, but in the end the Porter was able to throw the liquor, or rather throw it up. He then staggers off to pass out or, in one production I saw, pee against the wall.
There it is: the Porter is a disgusting drunk who makes dirty jokes and talks about boozing, and the only reason it is famous it that it's funny and a brilliant example of comic relief.
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∙ 7y agoNo
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What is Macbeth so cocky in scene 3?
In scene 3 of Macbeth, the Porter/doorman is drunk. They have been up drinking until three in the morning.
What dual purpose does the porter serve at the beginning of scene 3?
The scene with the porter functions as comic relief. This follows the scene where Macbeth has just killed Duncan so there is a lot of anxiety and tension and this aims to lessen that and give the audience a good laugh
Where are the king and his followers headed at the end of scene 4 Why In Macbeth?
This must be Act I scene 4 that we are talking about. The king has just announced that the party is at Macbeth's place, and so everyone is headed to Inverness.
What is the purpose of the drunken porter scene in Macbeth?
It depends which witches' scenes you are talking about. The key and most important scene is Act I Scene III, which is a scene taken from Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's source for the story. The purpose of this scene is to provide the motive power by which the story will run. It is the inciting incident of the plot. Act I Scene I is a scene designed to get the audience's attention so they will stop talking to their neighbours, pinching the orange-sellers and so on, and pay some attention to what was going on on stage. The other witches' scenes, and I include the famous Act IV Scene 1 in this, are superfluous. Their purpose is for the most part to be amusing, by portraying the witches as cutesy fairies who dance about to music and sing songs, while speaking in iambic tetrameter instead of blank verse. Act IV Scene 1 also is a pretext for including the dumb show line of kings which would help get the play past the censors, being flattering to King James.
In Macbeth who jokes about being at the hell gate?
the porter, which is the guy who answers the castle doors at night so that no one else will have to get up
What is Macbeth so cocky in scene 3?
In scene 3 of Macbeth, the Porter/doorman is drunk. They have been up drinking until three in the morning.
What dual purpose does the porter serve at the beginning of scene 3?
The scene with the porter functions as comic relief. This follows the scene where Macbeth has just killed Duncan so there is a lot of anxiety and tension and this aims to lessen that and give the audience a good laugh
Where are the king and his followers headed at the end of scene 4 Why In Macbeth?
This must be Act I scene 4 that we are talking about. The king has just announced that the party is at Macbeth's place, and so everyone is headed to Inverness.
Why is the porter so slow at answering the door Macbeth?
The porter in Macbeth is slow at answering the door because he was portrayed as being drunk and disoriented, which impairs his ability to respond quickly. Additionally, his role serves to introduce comic relief in an otherwise dark and intense play.
What is the purpose of the drunken porter scene in Macbeth?
It depends which witches' scenes you are talking about. The key and most important scene is Act I Scene III, which is a scene taken from Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's source for the story. The purpose of this scene is to provide the motive power by which the story will run. It is the inciting incident of the plot. Act I Scene I is a scene designed to get the audience's attention so they will stop talking to their neighbours, pinching the orange-sellers and so on, and pay some attention to what was going on on stage. The other witches' scenes, and I include the famous Act IV Scene 1 in this, are superfluous. Their purpose is for the most part to be amusing, by portraying the witches as cutesy fairies who dance about to music and sing songs, while speaking in iambic tetrameter instead of blank verse. Act IV Scene 1 also is a pretext for including the dumb show line of kings which would help get the play past the censors, being flattering to King James.
In Macbeth who jokes about being at the hell gate?
the porter, which is the guy who answers the castle doors at night so that no one else will have to get up
How does Lady Macbeth's attitude fulfill the witches' fair and foul prediction from Act I scene i?
She pushes MacBeth to kill the king and by doing so fulfills the witches predictions.
Which characteristic of Macbeth's if changed would most change the theme of this scene?
If Macbeth's ambition was changed to contentment with his current state, it would significantly alter the theme of the scene. Ambition is a central driving force behind Macbeth's actions and the subsequent consequences, so without it, the themes of power, corruption, and downfall would not be as pronounced.
Who places the daggers with the murdered servants in Macbeth?
Macduff greets Macbeth's announcement that he has killed the grooms with the line "Wherefore did you so?" Macduff seems to think that was a peculiar thing to do, since he asks why Macbeth did it. Macbeth has a ready answer, but then in the next scene Macduff chooses not to attend Macbeth's coronation, so maybe he was not convinced by the answer.
Lady Macbeth act 2 scene 1 these deeds must not be thought after these ways so it will make us mad this is an example of?
foreshadowing it forshadows the madness of both MacBeth and his wife.
Where is Macbeth as his wife greets the king at the gate?
He's inside the castle. Duncan reaches the castle in Act I Scene VI, and Macbeth arrives in the previous scene. Duncan remarks that Macbeth passed them on the way, so he knows he's around somewhere. He asks Lady Macbeth to "Conduct me to mine host" and they enter the castle.
Good sir why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?
Macbeth- Act 1, Scene 3- Banquo says this to Macbeth because the witches just told MAcbeth he is the Thane of Cawdor and the Thane of Cawdor is still alive.
