Question 10 • English 2 Sem 2 (10013400) BCPS 2025-26
Read the passage from act 2, scene 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth.Porter. 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.
Answer
A
It creates a comedic effect, which suits the porter, who is a comical character.
B
It creates a dramatic effect to set the tone for the revelation of Duncan’s murder.
C
It illustrates a contrast between the lowly porter and the highborn Macbeth.
D
It illustrates that servants and lords are all the same when it comes to drinking alcohol.
Explanation
The porter jokes that drinking both arouses desire and prevents a man from acting on it, using a series of contradictory phrases for comic effect. His bawdy wordplay gives the audience comic relief after the tense events surrounding Duncan’s murder. This suits the porter, who is presented as a comical character, so the best choice is “It creates a comedic effect, which suits the porter, who is a comical character.”
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