The Porter is the gate-keeper to the Macbeth’s castle, and jokes about being the keeper to ‘the gates of hell’.

He’s a very heavy drinker, and provides important comic relief amidst the play’s intense tragic momentum.

Motto

I pray you, remember the porter

— Act II, scene 3

Need to know

• Hears some knocking at Macbeth’s castle gate

• Opens the gate to Macduff

•Jokes about drinking, lechery and equivocation 

Key quote

Faith, here’s an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale

— Act II, scene 3

Also called

Friend 
— Act II, scene 3