“What is your gracious pleasure?

” (Act V, Scene 3, Line 2281) This is the opening quote

uttered by Seyton in the entire play which already says a lot about his personality showing how he

is Macbeth’s chief servant and always has plenty of savvy in his attitude.

“All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported.” (Act V, Scene 3, Line 2283) While Seyton

is only a servant at most times, he occasionally serves as an advisor to his master. After Macbeth’s

orders are carried out and confirmed, he gets more furious and demands his armour for battle which

Seyton quickly and reassuringly replies with, “‘Tis not needed yet.” (Act V, Scene 3, Line 2286)

yet is ignored soon after.

“It is the cry of women, my good lord.” (Act V, Scene 5, Line 2362) No matter the task,

Seyton must still continue to serve his duty as chief servant to Macbeth. He is constantly sent out

to report back on certain matters and events that are carried out within the kingdom and confirm

certain actions to his lord.

“The queen, my lord, is dead.” (Act V, Scene 5, Line 2373) There really is no easy way to

put to a person that their significant other has passed away, especially if it is your paid job to do

so and the deceased is the Queen of Scotland. Seyton is still loyal and is forced to be the bearer of

bad news in this situation, yet the King remains unfazed.

 “Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that

could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed treason enough for God's sake,

yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come in, equivocator.” (Act II, Scene 3, Line 747) To begin

with, Porter is quite debatably the most dramatic and attention seeking character within this

Shakespeare classic always adding extra adjectives to his phrasing making him appear to be quite

the intellectual.

“'Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of

three things.” (Act II, Scene 3, Line 784) Porter isn’t exactly a rule-follower, which leads others

around him to be concerned about his health and well being. He can be found in the court of

Macbeth’s castle slightly hungover from the previous night yet still rehearsing poetic-like

monologues out loud to himself.

“Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it

provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance: therefore, much drink may be said to be

an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it

persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion,

equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him. (Act II, Scene 3, Line 788) Macduff

is curious as to why Porter has just risen so late in the day and questions if he had been out drinking

the night before. He truthfully answers yes and explains what three main side effects alcohol has

on him; making his face red, passing out, and constantly needing to visit the restroom. Yet while

explaining these three results of his bad decisions, keeps up his swagger attitude while talking to

Macduff showing that he is able to keep his cool, even intoxicated.

 “That it did, sir, i' the very throat on me: but I requited him for his lie; and, I think, being

too strong for him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.” (Act II,

Scene 3, Line 799) Even a frequent partier such as Porter can’t hold his own alcohol. What he

describes to Macduff is how he had too much, yet still managed to continue on due to his “high-

tolerance”. Basically, he threw up what he could to keep going.