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The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

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Portia

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Extended Character Analysis

In The Merchant of Venice, Portia is a beautiful, intelligent, and wealthy heiress from Belmont. Her father’s will stipulates that she can only marry the man who manages to solve a riddle involving three caskets made of different metals. The caskets are made of gold, silver, and lead. The person who successfully chooses the casket with Portia’s portrait in it wins her hand in marriage. Due to her wealth and beauty, Portia has many suitors. However, her father’s will has left her powerless to decide which one she weds. Portia resents this, and subtly helps Bassanio, her favored suitor, solve the riddle so that they can marry. Though Portia is constrained by her father’s will and her gender, she does not allow these hindrances to prevent her from manipulating situations in order to achieve her desired outcome.

Portia is one of the most clever heroines in William Shakespeare’s plays. Her cunning and intelligence is most clearly showcased during Antonio’s trial. Posing as a young, male lawyer, Portia successfully defends Antonio from Shylock’s gruesome retribution and saves Antonio’s life. While doing so, she showcases an impressive understanding of Venetian law. As opposed to Bassanio’s call for the rules to be ignored and Antonio’s melancholic resignation to his fate, Portia is able to work within the constraints of the court system to save Antonio’s life. This ability to work within constraints is also present when she helps Bassanio choose the correct casket by having her musicians play a song containing hints in the lyrics. Though still adhering to her father’s will, she subtly manipulates her surroundings to secure her own happiness.

Though Portia’s father’s test is allegedly designed to protect her from unworthy suitors, it actually robs Portia of her agency. By making Portia’s hand in marriage a prize to be won, the courtship test renders Portia an object rather than a person. Rather than needing to win Portia’s affections, her suitors simply need to pass her father’s test. Though Portia does exert control over her future by offering Bassanio hints, it is unclear if she truly loves him or if he is just the best option amongst her suitors. The Merchant of Venice presents love in terms of economics. In Bassanio’s eyes, Portia is a prize to be won so that he can pay off his debts. For Portia, Bassanio may be an investment in her own future. By this reading, Portia and Bassanio’s marriage is not founded on love—at least not initially. Instead, it seems to be based on mutual convenience: Bassanio gains access to Portia’s fortune, and Portia is freed from her father’s will. However, rather than contenting herself with a marriage of convenience, Portia works to win Bassanio’s love as well.

Portia’s efforts to turn Bassanio into a good husband are initially thwarted by Bassanio’s love for his friend Antonio. Antonio’s willingness to take out a dangerous bond has allowed Portia and Bassanio to marry. However, it has also indebted Bassanio to Antonio in such a way that he cannot give all of his love to Portia. After witnessing Bassanio’s declaration that he would sacrifice his marriage for Antonio, the disguised Portia drolly remarks that Bassanio’s wife would not appreciate that. Indeed, though Portia does seem to have some altruistic motivations, her true effort to save Antonio does not come until after Bassanio stakes his life on Antonio’s.

One of the primary motifs in the play is the idea of relationships being transactional and based on debt. Bassanio begins the play deeply indebted to Antonio. If Antonio were to die for Bassanio’s happiness, then Bassanio would never truly be able to pay back that debt. So, Portia leverages the outcome of the trial so that both Bassanio and Antonio are indebted to her instead of each other. Furthermore, through her trick with Bassanio’s wedding ring, she introduces equality into her marriage. After Bassanio successfully completes the casket test, Portia promises herself and all of her belongings to him. However, Bassanio is not asked to do the same for her. In giving away his wedding ring, Bassanio essentially forfeits his bond with Portia. In order to reclaim that bond, Portia forces Bassanio to pledge his soul to her as well. Now, both Bassanio and Portia belong to one another and are mutually indebted. Their marriage is one between equals.

Yet, for all of Portia’s virtues, she exhibits prejudice and hypocrisy while dealing with Morocco and Shylock. She disparages the Prince of Morocco on account of his dark skin and hopes that all men with his “complexion” also choose the wrong casket. She also proves to be just as much of an anti-Semite as Antonio. Though Portia extolls “mercy” as a virtue during the trial, she shows none after gaining the upper hand against Shylock. Bassanio is willing to pay back Shylock’s 3,000 ducats. However, Portia declares that since Shylock initially refused the payment, he gets nothing. Furthermore, even when Shylock is ready to leave without his money or his pound of flesh, she continues to degrade him. Though Shylock is a resident of Venice, Portia uses anti-Semitic rhetoric to paint him as an “alien.” By casting Shylock as an outsider, she robs him of his fortune, his dignity, and his faith.

Expert Q&A

What disguise does Portia use in The Merchant of Venice and what does it reveal about her character?

Portia disguises herself as a male lawyer, Balthasar, to defend Antonio in court, revealing her intelligence and resourcefulness. This disguise highlights her ability to navigate societal constraints while adhering to the law, showcasing her as a free spirit who uses wit and strategy to achieve her goals. Her actions demonstrate her commitment to justice and loyalty, as she aids her husband Bassanio's friend, ultimately saving Antonio and outsmarting Shylock.

Is Portia from The Merchant of Venice more like a modern woman compared to women of her time?

Portia in The Merchant of Venice exhibits traits akin to a modern woman, such as intelligence, resourcefulness, and adaptability. Despite constraints from her father's will, she ensures her preferred suitor, Bassanio, wins her hand. Her ability to influence situations, such as dressing as a man to intervene in court, showcases her strength and versatility. These qualities resonate with both contemporary and modern women, who may admire her ability to balance duty with personal desires.

What reason does Portia give Nerissa for being weary of the world at Belmont?

Portia expresses her weariness of the world to Nerissa due to her lack of autonomy in choosing her husband. Although she lives in luxury, she is bound by her deceased father's will, which dictates that her suitors must choose from three caskets to win her hand in marriage. This constraint leaves Portia unable to choose or refuse a suitor, making her weary of the waiting and uncertainty about her future spouse.

What is your commentary on Portia's verdict in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia's verdict in "The Merchant of Venice" cleverly adheres to the law while ensuring justice. Disguised as a lawyer, she initially confirms Shylock's right to a pound of flesh but ingeniously stipulates that no blood can be shed. This renders Shylock's claim impossible and leads to his downfall. While the verdict is logical, forcing Shylock to convert to Christianity introduces an element of unfairness and suggests underlying antisemitism in the play.

Why did Portia obey her father's will even after his death in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia obeys her father's will because it ensures her suitor loves her for herself, not her wealth, and keeps her inheritance intact. She also believes she can influence the outcome, guiding Bassanio to choose the correct casket without directly disobeying the will. Despite her independent nature, Portia respects her father's wishes while cleverly navigating the situation to secure both love and fortune.

Why didn't Portia accept Shylock's offer to take Bassanio's money instead of a pound of flesh?

Portia refused Shylock's offer to take money instead of a pound of flesh because she wanted to hold him to his earlier insistence on the original terms of the bond. Shylock had previously rejected offers of much more than the loan amount, demanding the pound of flesh instead. Portia's decision to deny even the principal amount was a form of retribution, reflecting Shylock's own harshness and merciless insistence on justice.

In The Merchant of Venice, how does Portia's call for mercy show Christian hypocrisy?

In the Merchant of Venice, Portia appears to speak with a Christian attitude in her speech regarding mercy. In reality, though, she disregards the Jewish religion of Shylock and applies Christian values toward the situation. Her words appear to be coming from a place of kindness and are measured for effect. The Duke has made it clear that mercy is warranted; therefore, Portia must appeal to the Christians in the courtroom—nearly everyone but Shylock—and not try to persuade Shylock himself on his own principles . She portrays mercy as being more powerful than anything else in the world, including power itself. Furthermore, she states that anyone who is against mercy is essentially against God .

Why does Portia order for music to be played in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia orders music to be played to aid Bassanio in choosing the correct casket. The music serves as a subtle hint to help him find "fair Portia's counterfeit" in the lead casket. Portia's instructions to play music as Bassanio makes his choice are symbolic; if he chooses incorrectly, the music will symbolize a "swanlike end," but if he wins, it will celebrate his success like a flourish for a new monarch.

Do you agree with Portia's statement that the Prince of Morocco has a fair chance as any suitor?

Portia's statement that the Prince of Morocco has a fair chance is both honest and ironic. While she claims he is as likely as any suitor, she is not genuinely interested in him or others, as she is fond of Bassanio. Her comment reflects her disdain for her suitors and her lack of choice in the matter due to her father's will. Thus, Morocco has as fair a chance as any, which is minimal.

What does the extract from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice reveal about Portia as a daughter and lover?

"And yet a maiden hath no tongue, but thought, - . . .one half of me is yours, the other half yours . . ."

The extract reveals Portia as a devoted daughter and a strategic lover. She respects her late father's wishes by adhering to the test he devised for her suitors but also demonstrates her affection for Bassanio by subtly trying to ensure his success without breaking the rules. Her actions indicate a balance of filial duty and personal desire, showcasing her intelligence and determination to secure a future with someone she truly loves.

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