Critically analyse the
Porter Scene in Macbeth.
The porter scene or the discovery scene (Act II Scene III) in Macbeth has attracted many critical commentary and
conjecture. It comprises of two climaxes – the comical porter’s apparently
irrelevant and tipsy comments and the discovery of the treacherous murder of
Macbeth’s guest, King Duncan. Now, let us examine from close quarter the
importance of this scene.
The Satirical
porter scene written in earthly prose is intended a comic relief
in the grim tragic atmosphere. The sordid, tense and serious atmosphere of
conspiracy and murder is slightly eased by the humourous speeches and incidents
of the porter. It is woven into the drama in such a way that they have widened
and enriched, rather than weakened, the tragic significance. Alike the
gravediggers in Hamlet, the speeches of the Fool in King Lear, the Porter’s
nonsense verbatim aims to relieve the tension and heightens the tragic element
by contrast.
