In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the porter scene that comes after the killing of Duncan makes the reader laugh. The porter is a strange gatekeeper. It is also a metaphor for the gates of hell. When the porter enters, it is a transition from a supernatural story to a more dramatic story.
Macbeth's porter scene functions as a comic relief after King Duncan is killed. The troll-like gatekeeper makes the audience or reader laugh with his drunken banter, and relieves the tension of the killing in the prior scene. He casts light on Macbeth's internal torment. For example, in the manner of dark comedy he makes fun of Lady Macbeth's fears. This scene makes people laugh because of the porter's soliloquy.
On a more serious side, the porter's drunken state gives rise to one of the second act's main metaphors - the house of Macbeth as the gates of hell. The Porter's soliloquy contains satanic images, and he views himself as gatekeeper. Shakespeare views Castle Macbeth as the home of death and corruption, because of the Lady and the murderous acts of its Master. The porter scene symbolizes that everyone who comes into the castle and tries to stop Macbeth ambition have entered hell. Even though this scene makes audiences laugh, it also shows how Shakespeare feels about Macbeth's murderous behavior.
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