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