Question

The Porter's scene, or the "knocking at the gate scene," is frequently debated by scholars, but most agree it is a typical scene of comic relief often found in Shakespeare's plays. Why do you think a scene of comic relief has been placed in this particular part of the play? What is its purpose:? Why are the Porter's lines in prose rather than poetry? What lines contain the bawdy humor often found in these scenes?

Answer 1

The Porter's scene in Macbeth is a typical scene of comic relief often found in Shakespeare's plays. It provides a break from the intense and dramatic events of the play, lightening the mood and providing comedic relief. The Porter's lines in prose and contain bawdy humor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Porter's scene, or the "knocking at the gate scene," is a scene of comic relief often found in Shakespeare's plays. It is placed in this particular part of the play to provide a break from the intense and dramatic events that have just occurred. The purpose of the scene is to lighten the mood and provide some comedic relief for the audience.

The Porter's lines in prose rather than poetry serve to emphasize the contrast between the serious and poetic language used by the other characters in the play. The use of prose adds to the comic effect of the scene.

Lines that contain the bawdy humor often found in these scenes include the Porter's remarks about a farmer who hung himself "on the expectation of plenty" and the suggestion that the lice on someone's blanket can "swarm" in hell.