macbeth: characters- porter.

Question 1

what is he meant to be seen as?

Answer 1

comic relief for the audience.

Question 2

what does the porter believe himself to be and when?

Answer 2

gatekeeper of hell when answering a knock at the gate.

Question 3

what does the scene allude to?

Answer 3

medieval mystery plays (play designed to teach the audience good christian morality through dramatizing biblical stories.)

Question 4

what does Shakespeare giving this character the role to act out suggest?

Answer 4

macbeths castle has turned into a hellish place after the crime committed there.

Question 5

who does he imagine to be the other side of the gate, what does this suggest and what does it mean in relation to macbeth?

Answer 5

farmer- hoarded produce.
equivocator and tailor- stolen cloth.
each of these actions has sent them on path to hell, telling the audience that if macbeth doesn’t redeem himself he is destined for the ‘everlasting bonfire.’ as they all have something in interest.
he has acted out of self interest and has lied and has stolen royal robes from duncan.

Question 6

what could the porters comments