What is Portia's character sketch in act 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

A character sketch is a short written description of a person's qualities. Such a description will, therefore, include details of the person's personality as well as information about his or her physical attributes.

We learn much about Portia in act one. When Bassanio describes her to Antonio in scene one, we learn that she is a wealthy heiress, "richly left," that she is beautiful ("she is fair, and, fairer than that word"), and that she possesses many other amazingly benevolent qualities (she is "Of wondrous virtues").

In Bassanio's contention, then, Portia would be an excellent bride. This fact is proven when he speaks about how men of stature, wealth, and prestige have come from far and wide to woo her, as he says, "the four winds blow in from every coast / Renowned suitors."

It is also evident that Portia is blond and that her beauty has driven many on a quest to win her affections. Bassanio states that "her sunny locks / Hang on her temples like a golden fleece."

Bassanio alludes to Jason, an ancient Greek mythological hero who went on a quest for the golden fleece, when he mentions how determined Portia's suitors are to obtain her love.

Portia also possesses mature self-knowledge. When she speaks to her handmaiden, Nerissa, she tells her that she believes herself to be better at teaching than she is at following her own advice. This suggests that she is stubborn. We learn, however, that in spite of her concern about the unfair demands of her father's will, she respects his wishes and will follow them. This means that she is loyal and dutiful.

Portia is also fastidious and seeks only the best for herself. She has, thus far, carefully scrutinized her suitors and seems displeased with all of them. None of them have met her high standards, and she wishes that all of them would just leave. There is also a hint of dishonesty when she suggests that the Duke of Saxony's nephew could be misled into choosing the wrong casket by placing a glass of wine "on the contrary casket."

Portia also displays prejudice when she informs Nerissa that if one of her suitors "have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me." This suggests that she would rather have such a person listen to her confess than become his wife.

Portia is apparently not perfect, but despite her shortcomings, she would be, in the eyes of her admirers, an ideal partner.

How is Portia characterized in act 1, scene 2, of The Merchant of Venice?

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In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the reader gets a sense of Portia's character in Act One, scene two.

Portia seems to be conflicted about doing good things for others. She has a discussion with Nerissa about money and happiness. (She has inherited her father's wealth, as well as his strange manner of choosing a partner for his daughter, even after his death.)

Portia admits that it's easy to preach being kind and helpful to others, but very rare to be the one person willing and able to actually put words into actions. The thrust of this part of her conversation seems to be that it is difficult to do what you know is right: but doesn't see this as an excuse.

The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot tempter leaps o'er a cold decree.

(In other words, "Cold" rules are all well and good unless you have a "hot" temper.)

In listening to what Portia has to say, we find she is intelligent—not a simpering young woman concerned with clothes and jewels as other ladies her age might be.

The conversation turns toward Portia's suitors. Portia has a reason that she would prefer not to marry each one Nerissa mentions, but her reasoning is sound. One man is a drunk, another talks of nothing but of horses, and another she cannot speak to at all because he speaks only English, which she speaks poorly. One famous line comes from these conversation regarding the drunk, the duke of Saxony's nephew:

When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst he is little better than a beast.

Overall, I believe the reader learns that Portia is a woman of substance, but not just financial substance: she is concerned about helping others, and being committed to do the "right" thing. She wants to marry someone that she has something in common with, rather than passing her days with a stranger or a drunk. She is a bright, articulate woman, hoping for a bright future.

Describe Portia's character in Act 1, Scene 2 of The Merchant of Venice.

In this scene, Portia is unhappy about her predicament. Nerissa adds that people with too much can suffer as much as people with too little; the best way to be happy is to have just enough. She suggests that Portia might apply this principle to her life. Portia replies that this is easier said than done. It would seem that Portia is a rich heiress unnecessarily whining about being unhappy. One with so much wealth could/should have the ability to choose a different way of life. In other words, Portia, having so much wealth, should be able to change the circumstances of her life in order to be happy. However, her lamenting is justified since she has no choice in her future. She is stuck in the position of being waiting to be chosen - from a list of suitors she does not like. 

The prince from Naples only talks about horses. Count Palatine is solemn to the point of being nihilistic (not caring about anything). The French lord tries to hard to impress. Falconbridge doesn't speak Portia's language and his personality is "everywhere." The Scottish lord has no backbone (self esteem). The Young German is a drunk. It would seem that Portia is being picky but her complaints of each suitor are justified. More to the point, she is being "picky" because she doesn't not have the power to "pick" her mate herself. 

This scene establishes Portia as one who truly desires freedom and independence. She resents her father's will and wants the right to choose her husband. She resents anything or anyone who might tell her what to do. And this desire reflects her personality as one who is independent, an individual. (We will see her utilize her independence and autonomy later in the play.) When the prince of Morocco arrives, Portia continues with her complaints and ethnic stereotypes about any potential suitor. This might reflect a haughty disposition on her part but it shows her consistent desire to be the chooser rather than the one to be chosen. 

What do we learn about Portia, Antonio, and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Act 1, Scene 3?

Portia, the rich heiress who is bound by her father's commands about her marriage, does not appear and is not mentioned in Act I Scene 3.  Bassanio and Shylock, the young merchant in need of money and the rich moneylender, respectively, talk about a loan of three thousand ducats.  It is clear that Bassanio sorely needs this money, but he is not of sufficient age or established business character yet to take out the loan on his own.  Antonio, who is an older and well-established businessman, must co-sign the loan with Bassanio, to make it credible that it will be paid back.  In this age before established banks this kind of personal business transaction was common, and in order for lenders to have any kind of certainty that a loan would be paid back a person of wealth and established credit would be required to stand with the borrower, and to pay back the loan to the lender if necessary.  Shylock and Antonio have an adversarial relationship.  Antonio, who is a prosperous businessman, lends out money to those who need it "gratis, and brings down/The rate of usance here with us in Venice."  This means Antonio hurts Shylock's moneylending business by taking customers away by lending at zero percent interest, while Shylock charges interest.  Also, Antonio has made Anti-Semitic comments in the past, and directly insulted Shylock.  It is here that the ludicrous bargain for the "pound of flesh" of Antonio is negotiated, if Bassanio defaults on the loan.

What's the significance of Portia's song in act 3, scene 2 of The Merchant of Venice?

The song is designed to help Bassanio make the right choice in the casket test.

There are three caskets involved in the test, but only one will lead to Portia. Portia desperately wants Bassanio to choose the correct casket, but she can't come right out and tell him which one to pick. So she does the next best thing and gives him some none-too-subtle clues in the song. The last word of every line in the song rhymes with "lead," which is the metal from which the prize casket has been made. The other two, made of gold and silver, were designed by Portia's father to throw fortune-hunters off the scent.

It's not entirely clear that Bassanio picks up the hint, but in any case, he does choose the lead casket, which for Portia is ultimately all that matters.

How does Portia act as a romantic heroine in Act 3, Scene 2 of The Merchant of Venice?

Portia is initially apprehensive to the point of being melancholy about the possibility that Bassanio will make the wrong choice. This brooding quality and penchant for melancholy is characteristic of a romantic hero or heroine. However, she is also filled with the potential hope that Bassanio will choose correctly. Hope in the face of possible hopelessness is also a Romantic theme, namely with Keats, but many other Romantic poets as well.

Romantic themes include the focus on the individual, intuition, a connection with nature (in the sense of the natural world and/or having a spiritual or transcendent connection with nature). Logically following, a Romantic heroine also tends to have the characteristic of "transcending" social laws and strictures in pursuit of some goal or quest. Portia's romantic wish is to be with Bassanio. She overcomes her brooding melancholy and decides to trust her intuition (and with faith in Bassanio's intuition and logic) that Bassanio will choose the lead. After Bassanio chooses correctly, Portia sets out on a quest to help save Bassanio's friend, Antonio. At this point, she becomes one of, if not THE, main protagonist, the heroine who inevitably saves the day. 

In these lines particularly, Portia tries to imbue the act of choosing with poetry, comparing the potential choices to music. Doing so, she hopes to give Bassanio a more transcendent, romantic description of her love. After her description, she says, "Now he goes, with no less presence but with much more love." She tries to inspire the same sort of Romantic intuition that she has onto Bassanio - so that he will make the right choice. Bassanio must make a choice regardless of the social or monetary value of the gold, silver, or lead. Like a Romantic hero, he must make a solitary choice from his own intuition. 

In The Merchant of Venice, what do we learn about Portia in act 3, scene 4?

This play is full of contradictions. It seems to propose an ethics of moral Christian values and does so at times. And in spite of Shylock's intent on revenge, he is discriminated against by virtually all other characters. Portia is also somewhat hypocritical. She shows some discrimination against some of her suitors and is less than merciful in the end with Shylock. Although, it could be argued that she is so intelligent that she knew how her scheme would play out. In the end, justice is done to an extent, but to be sure, commanding that Shylock commit to becoming a Christian is hardly justified. (This was a group decision but one initiated by Portia's manipulations.)

That all being said, Portia is genuine in her love for Bassanio and does seek justice in the end. While Shylock is right by law to expect his return, she is right to challenge his vengeance against Antonio and find a way to save Antonio, even if it might seem to serve her benefit as well.

In Act 3, Scene 4, she shows these good virtues and even calls attention to the fact that she does these things for her own sake (or the certainty that she and Bassanio will end up together, but also to make certain that the other couples will have the same happy ending: Jessica and Lorenzo, Gratiano and Nerissa). In this scene, we see the goodness of her virtue and a hint at how intelligent she will prove to be. She tells Lorenzo that she is glad she's done the right thing. She logically concludes that if Antonio is anything like Bassanio, he must be a virtuous man and therefore worth saving. Therefore, money is no object; this is what separates her from Shylock. He speaks more of money than love and she, the opposite: 

How little is the cost I have bestow'd,

In purchasing the semblance of my soul (III.iv.19-20)

This comes too near the praising of myself,

Therefore, no more of it: hear other things. (III.iv.22-23)

She feels confident in having done the right thing but shows some humility here by stopping when it seems she is praising herself too much. Having caught a glimpse of her own happy ending, she shows some renewed confidence in her abilities and in her certainty that she is doing the right thing. 

What does Portia say in act 4, scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice and why?

The most famous part of Portia's court room scene in disguise as Balthasar the young lawyer is her "mercy" speech, in fact, this speech is altogether one of Shakespeare's most famous and beloved speeches. Portia begins by discussing the fact that Shylock is legally within his rights in enforcing the contract with Antonio as it stands. She then, as Balthasar, states that since Shylock is within his rights and may legally press his strange suit, he must be merciful in order to spare Antonio, to which Shylock asks what it is that should compel him to mercy. Portia's answer is to explain and laud the equalities of mercy, saying mercy "droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven" and that it is an "attribute to awe and majesty." By this argument, Portia hopes to convince Shylock of the high noble value of mercy and paint it as a quality held by kings and by "God himself."

What was Portia's role in the trial scene in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia was there to defend Antonio against Shylock's claim to a pound of his flesh for forfeiting on a bond which he had signed as a guarantee for the repayment of a loan in the amount of three thousand ducats.

Bassanio, Antonio's closest friend and confidant, had approached the successful merchant for a loan so that he would have enough money to woo the wealthy and beautiful heiress, Portia, who lived in Belmont. Portia's father's will stated that she could only marry a suitor who successfully chose the correct casket from three—gold, silver and lead. Since she was beautiful and the heiress to an immense fortune, Portia had many suitors, themselves men of status and money who came to Belmont to chance their luck. Bassanio wanted to have an equal chance and therefore needed the money, as he tells Antonio in Act 1, scene 2:

In Belmont is a lady richly left;
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,...

And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,
I have a mind presages me such thrift,
That I should questionless be fortunate!

Antonio, unfortunately, did not have cash handy and asked Bassanio to approach a moneylender in Venice to grant him a loan. He would do the same. Bassanio found Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who was prepared to extend the loan if Antonio would sign as guarantor, which the kindhearted Antonio did. The bond specified that the loan of three thousand ducats was to be paid in full in three months. If Antonio should forfeit, Shylock could then claim a pound of his flesh as he makes pertinently clear in Act 1, scene 3:

...If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

At the end of the term, Antonio was struck by misfortune since he lost his fortune at sea and was bankrupt. He was unable to repay the debt and Shylock demanded restitution. It became clear that Shylock had malicious intent. He refused to negotiate any terms and insisted that his claim for a pound of Antonio's flesh be granted. He wanted to avenge the humiliation that he had felt when the Christian merchant publicly criticized him and treated him like a dog. Furthermore, he acknowledged that he found Christians despicable but that he especially hated Antonio.

Bassanio was informed about Antonio's predicament whilst he was in Belmont, ready to become Portia's husband after having chosen the correct casket. When he read the news, he turned pale and Portia asked him what the matter was. She learned about Antonio's position and offered to help by giving her love money to offer Shylock.

Portia also decided to disguise herself as a lawyer and secretly go to Venice with Nerissa, her lady-in-waiting, who would be disguised as a clerk. At court, she presented herself, in disguise, as Balthazar sent by an esteemed doctor of laws, Bellario, to defend Antonio. Shylock was unrelenting and insisted on having his way. He demanded to have a pound of Antonio's flesh.

Portia beseeched Shylock to be merciful and accept thrice more than the original loan amount, which he refused. She then referred to the very particular conditions of Venetian law which put Shylock in an extremely difficult position. Shylock could not cut off more or less than an ounce of Antonio's flesh, nor could he spill any of the merchant's blood. Shylock realized that he was in a tight spot and decided to accept terms.

Portia was, however, unforgiving and just as relentless as Shylock had been. She pointed out that any foreigner (which Shylock was) who deliberately intended to harm a Venetian would forfeit all his property to such a person and to the state. Furthermore, the duke could decide if such a person should be executed or not.

Antonio intervened and asked that the proposed sanctions against Shylock be adjusted. In the end, Shylock had to forfeit half his property to his daughter, Jessica, and her Christian husband, Lorenzo, and will the rest to them. They would then be in possession of his entire estate upon his death. More harshly, though, he was to give up his religion and become a Christian.

Portia's intelligent intervention surely saved Antonio's life and guaranteed a life of misery for the pernicious and vengeful Shylock.

Explain the role of Portia in The Merchant of Venice.

In a sense, you could argue Portia’s role in the play is to subvert stereotypes about women that were present during the sixteenth century and are still present in the twenty-first century.

Now, at first, it might not seem Portia’s role is so subversive. Initially, it seems like Portia’s role is rather typical for a cis woman character. She’s a remarkably attractive person, who, because of her gender, lacks agency. She can’t even choose who she’ll marry (which depends on the sexist assumption that she must marry in the first place).

However, as the play unfolds, Portia’s role expands. She exposes the construct of gender when she dresses up as a lawyer and uses her gift of rhetoric and knowledge of Venetian law to save Antonio. You could claim this scene shows that gender is not a true limitation. The restrictions placed on genders aren’t an inevitable fact of life: they’re a product of sexist societies. You might say that Portia’s new role as a lawyer proves that women can be anything men can be.

Portia’s role might also highlight that notion that women are not always beacons of virtue. Women, like men, can be morally compromised. Yes, Portia does rescue Antonio, but she also appears to punish Shylock in a way that could be described as excessively cruel or even anti-Semitic. She seems to go out of her way to leave him destitute and to compel his conversion to Christianity.

In a way, Portia’s role is twofold. Her character shows that women shouldn’t be held down as romantic objects nor held up as symbols of virtue. Women—like men, like any person of any gender—are complex.

What are Portia's main traits and how does she embody heroism in The Merchant of Venice?

The term heroine usually means a protagonist we admire for her strength, though it lacks the literary critical precision of such terms as epic or tragic hero. While recent feminist theorists have begun to theorize the concept of the heroine more precisely, the term is often still used to refer to any strong sympathetic female protagonist. Thus Portia as a strong and admirable female character is normally considered a heroine.

She is a wealthy heiress who is interested in finding a husband who will love her for herself rather than just her money. She is beautiful, intelligent, and loyal, an eloquent speaker and original thinker. She gives one of the best and most memorable speeches of the play ("The quality of mercy...") and ends up saving Antonio by use of her quick thinking. She displays courage in her masquerade and the willingness to put herself at risk to help her friends. Thus she is generous as well as intelligent.

What are Portia's main traits and how does she embody heroism in The Merchant of Venice?

Heroines are strong female characters who take daring actions to save or help other individuals throughout plays and stories. Portia is one of Shakespeare's most revered heroines, and she embodies many heroic attributes throughout The Merchant of Venice. Portia is respectful, even to the suitors she is uninterested in, and she is also intelligent. Portia displays her intelligence by conducting an elaborate plan to save Antonio and gives a valid argument that prevents Shylock from cutting a pound of flesh from Antonio's breast. In doing so, Portia saves Antonio's life and displays her courage by dressing up as a man and intervening in a Venetian trial under false pretenses. Portia takes a great risk by pretending to be Doctor Balthazar and ruling on Antonio's forfeiture. Portia also displays her magnanimous personality during her speech about mercy. Portia's intelligence, sympathy, and courage are predominant character traits typically found in heroines.

What are the traits of Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

Portia is beautiful and clever; in fact, she is far more clever than the men around her. While men try to control or deceive her in different ways, she is able to outwit them all. She clearly has to be more clever than the men around her to defeat the patriarchal society in which she lives. For example, her deceased father decreed that the man she marries has to win in the casket game; to help her chosen man, Bassanio, win the game over a prince of Aragon and a prince of Morocco, she employs a group of musicians to play tunes that provide Bassanio with the right choice to win the game. While dealing with the other men who vie for her hand, who are all deficient in some way, she feigns politeness and acceptance while rigging the game to favor her chosen man. Later, she disguises herself as a lawyer named Balthazar to save the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, who has been locked up by Shylock. While playing the part of a man, she uses the observations of men she has known to carry out her role to perfection. She is far more intelligent than the men around her, and she uses her beauty, intelligence, and savvy to triumph in a male-dominated world. 

What are the traits of Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

First, Shakespeare does, in fact, have heroes, including Brutus in Julius Caesar, Edgar in King Lear, Hamlet, and Othello. Within The Merchant of Venice, Antonio is in many ways a noble and admirable character, and Bassanio, although imperfect, is certainly a sympathetic character.

Portia herself is a model Shakespearean heroine. Although an heiress, she is determined to marry for love rather than money, and shows herself strong, brave, and clever in pursuit of her goals. Her generosity in offering her dowry to Shylock shows that she is devoted and unselfish. Her stratagem to disguise herself as a lawyer, and her clever arguments at court show her not only to be intelligent but also quick-witted and capable of clever improvisation. 

One aspect of both the play and the character of Portia that some modern critics find troublesome is its anti-semitism. To a modern audience the forced conversion of Shylock seems cruel and unnecessary, although within the logic of the play, it forms a way of reconciling him to the Christian community and also saving his soul.

Can you provide a character sketch for Portia in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia is one of Shakespeare's heroines who turns out to be the hero of the play. Dressed in men's clothes and playing the part of a young lawyer in the courtroom where Antonio's life hangs in the balance, Portia gives an heroic speech that saves the day.

Portia's primary qualities are a love of delicacy, goodness, compassion and mercy. As suitor after suitor comes to try for her hand according to the guidelines in her father's strange will, she mercifully finds ways of dismissing them with the truth, but the truth compassionately disguised so that it doesn't have a painful knife's edge to it. She doesn't tell them she dislikes them, she tells them that they have as fair a chance at winning her hand as any other she has seen.

In private, her great reasoning power and witty facility with words prepares us for the role she later plays as a lawyer. She must have wit and wisdom to win in a court of law and this is precisely what she does have. She elaborates for Nerissa and us on her disdain for the imperfections of the suitors, a disdain that she delicately hid from their knowledge.

Finally, it is Portia's plea for mercy on Antonio's behalf that saves him from Shylock's exacting knife of justice and revenge. It is mercy that we have seen at work as Portia turns away unwanted suitors. In both cases, Portia with her suitors and Shylock's court case, the facts and the truth are clearly known. In court, Shylock presents the facts; at her estate, Portia presents the facts. Portia's wisdom sets the precedent for Shylock to extend mercy regardless of the truth of the facts.

Describe Portia's trial scene in The Merchant of Venice.

If you are analyzing Portia's character, then here are several attributes to discuss based on the trial scene.

1. Portia is clever and self-assured: She thinks nothing of entering the male world of justice and business.  While she must disguise herself as a man to participate in the trial, rather than view that as an insult, Portia finds humor in it because she knows that she is outwitting the men at their own game.  Similarly, while many of the Venetians seem to fear Shylock, Portia toys with him and lectures him on mercy.

2.  Portia is either compassionate and ironic: Her "Quality of Mercy" speech which appears in the trial scene demonstrates a willingness on her part to provide Shylock with an out if he chooses to take it.  Going into the trial, Portia knows that she has the upper hand, but rather than immediately identifying the egregious flaw in Shylock's contract, she offers him an opportunity to show mercy just as he would want it shown to him.  In addition to illustrating Portia's compassion, the trial scene (especially the "Mercy" speech) exemplifies Portia's ironic nature.  She warns Shylock about the irony for insisting on the letter of the law--that eventually someone will insist on the letter of the law when dealing with him--and in doing so, presents a lesson to the whole court about the irony of their justice system.

What is Portia's plan in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia's plan…for what?
If you mean Portia's plan to save Antonio, it is to get him to hold to the letter of the law, and then to force him to apply it so strictly that it can't be done: to take a pound of flesh without spilling any blood.

This gives him technical justice while actually defeating him.

What is Portia's attitude in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia’s first line in the play is, “By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.” Though she is very wealthy and is described as beautiful and virtuous, she seems to be depressed. Nerissa comments, “they are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing.” Portia knows that she should be happy, but somehow she is not. She expresses frustration about her lack of agency in selecting a husband: “I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.” Her father has set up a test that will decide on Portia’s husband, giving her no say in the matter and setting her up as a prize rather than a person.

Portia proceeds to mock her many suitors. The only man who meets her approval is Bassanio. She is both joyous and nervous when he comes to woo her, for if he fails the test, she loses him. Fortunately, he passes, and the two marry. Her independent attitude briefly submits to her passion, calling him “her lord, her governor, her king.” When news of Antonio’s danger at the hands of Shylock reaches them, Portia promises to pay as much as it takes to free Bassanio’s friend. In fact, she disguises herself as a lawyer and single-handedly frees Antonio of his dangerous bond. This bold act demonstrates Portia’s love for Bassanio as well as her desire for independence and purpose.

Another side of Portia is revealed when Bassanio claims he would sacrifice her life for Antonio’s. As the disguised lawyer, she tests him by insisting he pay her with their wedding ring. Eventually, he gives in, and, when they return home, she berates him for giving away their ring, going so far as to pretend to have slept with the advocate to whom he gave the ring. Portia’s attitude may shift throughout the play, but her witty and strong-minded character remains consistent.

Discuss Portia's success as a lawyer in the trial scene of The Merchant of Venice.

Portia is scary.  And she's scary in two possible ways.  

One: she knows the law and Shylock so well that there is never any danger to Antonio.  That's a good kind of scary.  She's scary good at her job.  

Two: she knows that she is going to win no matter what and instead of getting it done quickly, she enjoys taunting Shylock's vengeance and scaring the tar out of Antonio and Bassiano.  If that's the truth, that's just mean. 

Either way, it's clear that Portia knows how to operate in a court setting.  Throughout the trial, Shylock is pushing hard for justice to be served.  He made a deal with Antonio, and he wants to see that deal honored.  He wants it followed exactly . . . to the letter.  Portia attempts to get Shylock to give mercy.  No success.  Then she gives him the opportunity to take much more financial payment than he originally was supposed to get back.  No go there either.  The entire time Shylock's responses were more or less "that wasn't the deal."  

It's like Portia is just reeling Shylock in, so that she can sucker punch him with a letter of law punishment.  Shylock's deal with Antonio called for "a pound of flesh."  Right as Shylock was about to take that pound of flesh, Portia reminded him that the deal called for a pound of flesh, but no blood.  Shylock doesn't see the significance.  Portia informs him that under the letter of Venice law, if Shylock spills any Christian blood, all of his property and holdings will be confiscated by the state.  Shylock can hardly believe it, but quickly backpedals and tries to take the money deal again.  Portia informs Shylock that is no longer possible because he already turned it down in court. Portia then informs Shylock of another Venetian law that will now punish Shylock for seeking the life of a Venetian citizen.  Basically Shylock has to give up a lot of his money to Antonio and the state.  Not all of it, but a lot. 

Portia's good, very good.  She has the entire court proceedings in hand AND is able to use the very thing that Shylock was pushing for (justice and law) against him. 

How do the main characters in The Merchant of Venice change?

All of the characters have changed by the end of “The Merchant of Venice”. In fact, “The Merchant of Venice” could be framed as a play about what happens to you and how you change after you get your heart’s desire: most of these characters start out wanting something or someone in the first part of the play and by the end they get what they want. Unfortunately for them, it does not always bring them the sort of happiness and fulfillment that they may have thought it would. Bassanio wants money in the first scene, because ultimately he wants to win Portia, and he wins both Portia and all the money he could ever need. Portia is in love with Bassanio and needs him to win the “casket challenge”, then later wants to help him rescue his friend. The challenge and the rescue work out well too. Antonio puts his life on the line for Bassanio, a gamble that almost costs him his life but ends up not only working but also winning him far more money than he ever risked. Gratiano and Nerissa are interested in each other from their first meeting, and by the end they are married. Lorenzo and Jessica take tremendous risks to be together and Jessica even converts to Christianity for his sake. By the end, yep, they’ve successfully beaten the odds and are going to live happily ever after…

But hold on, is that really it? Act 5 of this play is interesting because it shows us the first few moments that come right after “happily ever after”. They’ve all gotten what they want, but there’s some testiness and strain on all of the relationships: Jessica begins to worry about her father and the life she left behind and she and Lorenzo are a bit on the outs. Bassanio and Gratiano both utterly failed to keep one simple promise to each of their wives and the wives’ disappointment is palpable. By helping the friend he loves most in the world, Antonio has lost him, and it’s unclear what he will do with himself now. They all experience an amount of loss and disappointment that is new to them and must figure out how to cope.

All this is contrasted with the fate of Shylock, who perhaps changes most of all, but who goes on an utterly different journey in the play. Shylock starts out on top but his life is destroyed by his interaction with the Venetians. He starts the play wealthy and secure and ends up impoverished, broken, and stripped of his identity and religious faith in a way that stands in sharp contrast to the happy if uneasy fates of the other characters. The bitter awareness of his change of fortunes haunts the last act for the audience.

What is Portia's full name and title in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, and what are her character details?

In the Dramatis Personae, Portia is described merely as "a rich heiress", with no other names or titles.  From her first scene, Act I, Scene ii, we know that Portia is not only rich, but, at the moment, unhappy because she is not at liberty to choose her own husband.  Her suitors are of princely and noble rank, but she finds fault with all of them.

In Act II Scene ii one of Portia's suitors, the Prince of Morocco, calls her "my gentle queen" (line 12), but this is only a term he uses to express his regard of her, not her actual title.  She is the only heiress of a very rich Venetian nobleman (in the Venetian republic there were noble families, but there were very few actual titles in comparison to other European states).  But as a rich Venetian woman, with not only money but probably ships and trading contacts as her dowry, she was a fit match for any prince (as evidenced by the suits of the princes of Morocco and Arragon).

The Prince of Morroco does not describe her specifically, but he and all the other suitors seem to agree that she is very beautiful.   "For princes to come view fair Portia: "(II.vii.43)

Portia's personality, however is evident in her words and actions.  She has already, at the beginning of the play, her own idea of who shall be her husband.  But she is loyal, and had given her word to her father to be ruled by his system of husband selection for her.  We know that she is somewhat prejudiced, for twice (in Act I and Act II, scene 7) she says that she hopes that no black man comes to press his suit.  She is brilliantly logical, on the other hand, and fools all the other lawyers with her careful defense of Antonio when Shylock attempts to take his pound of flesh.  She is daring, for she is willing to don a disguise and pretend to be a lawyer in order to save a friend.  She comes up with the extremely clever way that Shylock's demand is foiled; she notes that in the bond there is no provision for any blood, only for the flesh.  In this way (for there was a law that if a Jew, at this time, shed Christian blood, their money was forfeited to the state) she makes it impossible for Shylock to demand the terms of the bond. 

Portia is an extraordinary woman, in possession of most of the great gifts of life; money, liberty, good looks, and intellect.  She is, perhaps, no more bigoted racially or religiously than the other Venetians of her day, and she uses her brains in the cause of justice, and saves Antonio's life.

Is Portia the real hero of The Merchant of Venice?

In many ways, Portia is indeed the real hero of The Merchant of Venice. In spite of the fact that she's a woman, she claims more agency than almost any other character in the play. She initially laments her fate as a woman without choice: “O me, the word 'choose!' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike.” Her now deceased father has set up a system to select Portia’s husband. She has no power to select or turn down the man who passes her father’s test. Even after death, Portia’s life is ruled by patriarchy--one that she chooses to honor.

Fortunately, Portia’s love, Bassanio, passes the test and wins her hand. She asserts that she will submit herself to him as her lord: “Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit / Commits itself to yours to be directed, / As from her lord, her governor, her king.” However, she is hardly a submissive character. Portia in fact exercises more agency and demonstrates more wit than the male Bassanio. She also supports him financially. When his friend Antonio is in trouble, she offers to give thousands of ducats to save him.

Portia’s heroism is on full display during the trial. She disguises herself as a male lawyer and single-handedly delivers Antonio from death. Portia uses logic and the law to defeat Shylock in court. Not a single man there was able to think of a legal way to save Antonio’s life. The duke, Bassanio, and Antonio do nothing but plead for mercy. Portia at first follows this trend, delivering beautiful speeches on mercy and justice. When that fails, she points out that Shylock cannot exactly fulfill his bond without breaking it and that Shylock is breaking the law by conspiring to kill a Venetian citizen.

Portia is the one who saves the day. She retains the upper hand in her relationships, in spite of her initially subservient position as a woman. Portia even tricks Bassanio at the end of the play in order to test his loyalty. It is certainly reasonable to call Portia the play’s hero.

What's the audience's first impression of Portia in The Merchant of Venice?

Early indications of the character of Portia in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice appear in the opening scene, when the male characters collectively lament their current positions in life. This is especially true of two of the play's main characters, Bassanio and Antonio, the two close friends whose relationship propels the narrative. It is the latter's recognition of the forlorn demeanor of the former that will result in the arrangement with the moneylender Shylock. The first real intimation of the nature of the woman for whom Bassanio pines comes during his and Antonio's conversation in Act I, Scene I, when Bassanio responds to his friend's queries regarding his (Bassanio's) mental state:

In Belmont is a lady richly left;
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia:

Portia, then, will emerge as a model of physical beauty and emotional rectitude, a creature of such worth that Bassanio would be reduced to such a weakened mental state that Antonio would enter into the near-fateful arrangement with Shylock.

Why is Portia considered the hero of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

In the The Merchant of Venice, a contractual agreement takes center stage in the court of the Duke of Venice. Shylock loaned 3,000 ducats to Bassanio for him to use as his suitor expenditures for Portia. Bassanio does not have enough money to enter the loan, so he convinces Antonio, a wealthy merchant, serve as the loan’s guarantor.

If Antonio is not able to repay the 3,000 ducats, Shylock will remove a pound of Antonio’s flesh. There is no interest associated with this loan, and Shylock enters in the agreement because Antonio has abused Shylock previously, and the chance of enacting physical pain and death upon Antonio is too tempting for Shylock to pass up.

Antonio’s ships are reported lost at sea, so he is unable to repay the loan, which results in a trial. It’s important to note that Shylocks and Antonio’s rivalry is high religious in nature and depicts the often-contentious nature of this time between Christians and Jews.

In the trial, Portia arrives disguised as Balthazar, supposedly a young male doctor. Portia argues that the collateral of a pound of flesh does not include blood, so if Shylock draws blood or removes any weight of flesh other than exactly a pound, his property will be forfeited due to harm enacted upon a Venetian by an alien. Portia also argues that since Shylock refused money offers by Bassanio in open court for the express purposing of killing a Venetian, that law still applies to Shylock and eventually the Duke spares Shylock’s life but redistributes his property.

Why is Portia considered the hero of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

Portia is often seen as the hero of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for several reasons. First, she offers to cover Antonio's debt to Shylock with her considerable funds. When Shylock refuses, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and outsmarts Shylock in court, forcing him to abandon his claim to a pound of Antonio's flesh and to give up a considerable sum of money in the process. In many respects, Portia saves the day single-handedly. 

If one is to regard Portia as a hero, however, it's important to see the potential drawbacks to her character. While Shylock's intention to extract his pound of flesh from Antonio is undeniably cruel, it's hard not to empathize with him, as he endures a substantial barrage of anti-Semitism from Antonio and others throughout the play. Thus, when Portia humiliates Shylock in court, it's hard to see her actions as entirely "heroic," and it's particularly troubling that she shows little mercy to Shylock directly after giving a truly profound speech on the benefits of mercy.

That's not to say that Portia is not heroic at all. Rather, it's simply important to take her heroism with a grain of salt, as her many virtuous qualities come along with some suggested prejudices that are uncomfortable and troubling. 

How does Antonio's character develop throughout The Merchant of Venice?

The text of The Merchant of Venice indicates that Antonio doesn't change at all through the course of the play. In this regard, the literary element of character change would be antithetically presented in a staunchly unchanging character who holds fast to errors despite drastic situations that call for a change of character. One instance of Antonio's errors, which are derived from his character traits, is the fact that he seems to actually lie in the opening scene when he tells Salarino and Salanio that his wealth is not all in one venture nor dependent upon the financial success of that one year. His dishonest remarks to Salarino and Salario are revealed in his conversation with Bassanio in which he says that "all my fortunes are at sea; / Neither have I money nor commodity / To raise a present sum."

Another instance of Antonio's errors is what is revealed about his behavior while Bassanio and he are in negotiation for a loan with Shylock, who reveals that Antonio has hurled names at Shylock and spit on him and that he "did void [his] rheum upon [Shylock's] beard" and " foot [Shylock] as [he would] spurn a stranger cur." Antonio doesn't deny that he took such base actions, in fact, he confirms it: "I am as like to call thee so again, / To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too."

During the conclusion of the trail, when Shylock's punishment is being decided, Antonio successfully contributes to Shylock's punishment by continuing to persecute and impose his will upon Shylock and requiring, among other things, that Shylock convert to Christianity. Later, this same manipulative streak is displayed when he requires that Bassanio give Portia's ring to the lawyer/Portia against his will, as he swore to never part with it. He even speaks for Bessanio by pledging his own life again and saying that Bessanio swears to never break another oath given to Portia.

The most telling point that indicates there is no change in Antonio is that at the close of the play, he still thinks of Shylock as a despicable Jew and doesn't even entertain an idea that recognizes Shylock as a human, and one who has been seriously mistreated, so seriously as to drive him to strike a bargain for a pound of flesh.

How does Portia assist Antonio during the trial in The Merchant of Venice?

The first way that Portia helps Antonio, the one that makes all other help possible, is that she disguises herself as a man. This allows her to appear as his lawyer.

She then questions Shylock.

As she does so, she uses a strong knowledge of the law and superior reasoning to trap Shylock: she admits the legal basis of his claim, but analyzes the letter of the law to show that Shylock has to take flesh without taking blood. When he admits he cannot, she ups the stakes on him, arguing that he must be executed if he takes either more or less than that promised pound of flesh.

She then continues by quoting the law, showing that Shylock not only doesn't get the pound of flesh or his original loan, he "deserves" legal punishment: his life is forfeit unless the Duke shows mercy.

What are the stereotypes of Portia in The Merchant of Venice?

Here are a few ways in which I think that Portia fits into various stereotypes that we have today.  I hope this is what you are asking.

First, one stereotype we have is that women try to maneuver the men they want into marrying them.  We can see Portia doing this when she sees Bassanio.  She helps him to figure out the casket riddle.

Second, people say women try to make men jealous of other men.  Portia does this in the ring subplot.

Third, we think of lawyers as being people who will take an agreement and find loopholes in it to give it a meaning it never had before.  We see Portia do this when she says Shylock's agreement entitles him to a pound of Antonio's flesh, but none of his blood.  This means that the agreement actually prevents Shylock from taking the flesh instead of allowing him to do it.

How would you assess Portia's character as a daughter and lover in The Merchant of Venice?

When it comes to her relationship with her father and her husband-to-be, Portia uses her wits to bend the system to her own advantage. It is notable that while she pushes boundaries, she never works outside of the confines of the patriarchal system. She is a resourceful and creative daughter and fiancee.

Portia, for example, as she explains to her servant Nerissa, resents that her father's will prevents her from choosing her own husband. She is outwardly obedient to the dictates of the will, which stipulates she must marry the man who chooses the right casket of three on offer. However, she also manipulates this "test" to hint to the man she hopes to marry, Bassanio, the correct casket to pick. She does this by having hints dropped in the music played as Bassanio is making his choice.

Portia also shows herself to be a shrewd lover. She knows that her marriage will be overshadowed by Bassanio's guilt and shame at having a debt he can never repay if Antonio dies as a result of the loan he took out on Bassanio's behalf. Working within the confines of a system that won't allow a woman to act as a lawyer, Portia disguises herself as a male and successfully saves Antonio's life. By doing so, she saves her marriage from starting out on the wrong foot. In compelling Bassanio to give her the ring (when he thinks she is the lawyer, not herself) that Portia gave him and that he promised never to part with, she is able to trade it back in return for his promise of his soul being hers, starting the marriage off on an equal footing.

Who do you think is the true hero (or protagonist) of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Portia or Antonio?

Your question is actually more complicated than it seems since it demands two interpretations of the term, 'hero.' In literature, the word normally refers to the lead character. Because the play is titled, 'The Merchant of Venice,' Antonio becomes the most obvious reference since he is the only merchant we read about from beginning to end. In this sense, he is, therefore, the protagonist.

Further support for him being deemed the true protagonist lies in the fact that all the major events revolve around his actions. The main theme of the play explores the antagonism between him and his opposition, Shylock, and delves into the origin and nature of their dispute, its development, and final resolution. The actions of most of the other characters are determined by events which he influences and by situations which have an impact on him. In essence, he is the core around whom almost everything revolves.

It is Antonio's decision to assist Bassanio by agreeing to act as surety that affects the major events in the play: Shylock's demand for restitution in the form of a pound of his flesh; Portia's decision to disguise herself as a lawyer; the trial scene. The major themes all have their origins in these particular situations. Although Portia's role is important, her actions later in the play are all affected by Antonio's dilemma.

In addition, your reference to 'true' suggests 'real' in the sense of, 'Who is the real hero in the play?' I suggest that this requires an alternative interpretation of the word. In this definition, a hero is someone who undertakes an arduous task and is admired for acting bravely in the face of adversity. A more common interpretation is a reference to someone who saves another from jeopardy. In this interpretation, Portia is a hero, for she saves Antonio from Shylock's vengeance. She becomes his savior and her deed is much admired and appreciated by her contemporaries.

Antonio, for all his magnanimity, does not accurately fit this definition. The fact that he extended assistance to Bassanio, against his advice, does not entirely qualify him. His attitude in accepting the harsh and punitive conditions of Shylock's bond was born from his naive overconfidence. He had no doubt that his merchant ships would dock safely and not come to harm. 

On the whole, you'll to weigh up the two definitions and determine which best suits the purpose of your task.        

What is your view on Portia's character in The Merchant of Venice during the trial scene?

In the trial scene, the disguised Portia demonstrates resolve and wit. She also shows either foolhardiness or courage in choosing to represent Antonio. His life is in her hands. Portia begins her argument by establishing that the bond between Shylock and Antonio must be upheld, but she appeals to Shylock’s mercy. Her description of mercy’s beauty and power reveals a poetic and insightful spirit.

When Shylock does not bend, Portia asks whether the bond can be repaid. Shylock rejects the money, so Portia concludes, “there is no power in Venice / Can alter a decree established.” Apparently, she does not wholly believe in mercy after all because she does not argue that the law should be merciful. She says that breaking the law would set an unfortunate precedent.

After pleading with Shylock, Portia seemingly gives up, telling Antonio, “prepare your bosom for his knife.” Just in time, she prevents the act and points out that the bond allows for a pound of flesh but no blood. Moreover, she says that it is illegal to “shed / One drop of Christian blood.” Portia uses Shylock’s own adherence to the law against him, refusing to let him take the money instead of Antonio’s flesh.

Both Shylock and Antonio remain relatively intact, but Portia still decides to seek some revenge on her husband, who said he would give her up for Antonio’s sake. She insists on receiving a ring given to him by her as payment. This behavior concludes a scene in which she is clever and heroic but also manipulative and sometimes harsh. Portia is a mostly admirable woman whose character can be somewhat tainted due to the position she takes as a bringer of justice.

In what way is Portia from The Merchant of Venice a perfect Shakespearean heroine?

Just to strike a discordant note (which is always fun), if she is so perfect, why does she marry such a loser as Bassanio? He is clearly motivated by self-interest and marries her for her wealth rather than for who she is as a person. She shows herself to be his superior in every way but then at the end of the play settles down to being his subordinant in terms of accepting the role of wife. Yes, she is a superior Shakespeare heroine, but I think she has shocking taste in men.

In what way is Portia from The Merchant of Venice a perfect Shakespearean heroine?

Some critics describe Portia from The Merchant of Venice as Shakespeare's ultimate tribute to Queen Elizabeth. As such, Portia is seemingly a perfect heroine. She's witty, powerful, wealthy, logical, and yet is a romantic at heart. She wants to marry someone who interests her and to whom she is attracted, but she also desires to fulfill her deceased father's wishes.

In contrast to her husband Bassanio, Portia does not share any of his tendencies toward wasteful spending or giving in to one's emotions. In fact, she does not possess any major character flaws.  The only problem some readers have with Portia is that she unnecessarily entraps her husband with the ring subplot, but others view this scene as a demonstration of Portia's cautiousness--she is newly married to Bassanio and knows very little about him; so Portia's enthusiasts would argue that the ring subplot enables her to test Bassanio's loyalty to her.

Unlike other Shakespearean heroines like Desdemona or even Beatrice from Much Ado about Nothing, Portia--at no time--allows herself to be manipulated by others. She is entirely independent, and the trial scene in Act 4 illustrates her ability to command the attention of all in a room.

Is Portia the most appealing character in The Merchant of Venice? Why?

While this is a subjective question that completely relies on the reader's opinions, interests, and taste, there are numerous reasons as to why one would consider Portia to be the most appealing character in Shakespeare's classic play The Merchant of Venice. Portia is the play's heroine, who is initially lovesick, ends up marrying the man of dreams, and saves Antonio's life from the unscrupulous, vengeful Jewish usurer, Shylock. As a wealthy heiress, one would expect Portia to remain comfortable in her palace at Belmont and not intervene in Antonio's case. Instead of remaining aloof and distancing herself from the situation, Portia cleverly disguises herself as a young lawyer named Balthazar and presents a moving argument that saves Antonio's life. In doing so, Portia displays her loyalty, courage, intelligence, and wit. Portia's numerous positive qualities and risk-taking behavior certainly make her an appealing character. One could also argue that Shylock is the most appealing character in the play. Even though Shylock plays the role of antagonist and villain, the audience can sympathize with his character because of his difficult life. One could make the argument that Shylock is justified in his treatment of Antonio after suffering public humiliation and living an oppressed life as a second-class citizen.

How would you describe the character of Portia in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia doesn't get much attention of her own these days, but back in the 19th century, when women writers were just starting to enter the field of Shakespeare criticism, quite a few female authors rallied around her as a symbol of female perfection, a vital role model for English women, and proof of Shakespeare's understanding of and affection for women.

One 1888 essay contest in a magazine for young women, The Girl's Own Paper, was centered on 'My Favourite Heroine from Shakespeare', and reveals a great deal about what girls and women thought of Portia at the time. The Girl’s Own Paper received a record high number of responses for the competition--more than a third of which were devoted to Portia. (see Girl’s Own Paper, 10 March 1888).  The girls praised Portia’s balance of what ‘is excellent in a man, with the gentle charm which is so essential in a woman’ (same GOP issue, p. 181), echoing other women writers and critics like Anna Jameson and Mary Cowden Clarke who similarly celebrated Portia's strength and femininity.

In writing about Portia as a role model, Anna Jameson revealed her belief that while Portia is real in the sense that Shakespeare wrote her as a fleshed-out, believable character, the strictures of Victorian life make it impossible for a woman as perfect and balanced as Portia to exist and thrive in the real world.

She is in herself a piece of reality, in whose possible existence we have no doubt: and yet a human being, in whom the moral, intellectual, and sentient faculties, should be so exquisitely blended and proportioned to each other; and these again, in harmony with all outward aspects and influences, probably never existed—certainly could not now exist.  (Jameson, Characteristics of Women. New York: Saunders and Otley,1837, p. 57-58.)

Still today, though, we see her as a woman who defied the conventions of her time to defend her husband's friend in court.  She has faults by today's standards (I'd be worried if I had a female friend who got married to someone in great debt and immediately signed over control of her entire life savings to him!), but I would certainly not accuse her of weakness.

What are two common personality traits between Antonio and Portia in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia and Antonio share certain traits in “The Merchant of Venice”. The most obvious one is that they are both profoundly in love with Bassanio. Nerissa speaks very highly of him to Portia and Portia instantly recalls his name, though she quickly tries to play down her feelings: “Yes, yes, it was Bassanio! As I think…so was he called.” Meanwhile in Venice, Antonio is also tremendously in love with Bassanio, though he is very careful of how he expresses it until he is about to die when he urges Bassanio to:

Commend me to your honorable wife,

Tell her the process of Antonio’s end.

Say how I loved you; speak me fair in death,

And, when the tale is told, bid her be the judge

Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

Many scholars, directors and actors work from the assumption that Antonio is a deeply closeted gay man who feels he can’t express his true feelings for Bassanio safely. Bassanio himself seems completely oblivious to how Antonio feels about him despite the fact that he allows Antonio to go to incredibly dangerous lengths to give him money and protect him. Bassanio can therefore come across as rather coldhearted and clueless toward Antonio, and Antonio a sad, emotionally repressed man unable to truly be himself.

Another characteristic they share is deeply unpleasant: they're both racists. Both harbor serious hatred towards Jews: Shylock tells the story about when Antonio “spet upon my Jewish gabardine” and Portia refers to him dismissively as “Jew” many times throughout the trial scene. Earlier, when she is unsuccessfully courted by the prince of Morocco she contemptuously sneers “let all of his complexion choose me so” almost as soon as his back is turned. Shakespeare takes what is typically considered one of his great heroine roles and makes her ugly, and also takes the title character at the center of the play, who mostly elicits sympathy, and makes him in some ways ugly too. Shakespeare creates complex human beings who are sad and relatable and sympathetic and also quite ugly and unlikeable at the same time.