1. How is Portia’s demeanor with Bassanio different from that with her other suitors? What new side of Portia are we seeing? Give support for your answer from the text.
Answers
According to Portia, all other suitors except that of Bassanio, were quite unworthy of her situation and she did not like the concept of being entertained by each of them, till they proved themselves to be worthy enough to choose the right casket and marry her, according to her father's will.
However she favored Bassanio as she started to think that he was at least a nit sensible and better than others.
She tried to help him in choosing the right casket by providing her playful hints through music(even though she knows she cannot help him directly).
There were few comments where she discussed that she had a positive thinking towards this Suitor i.e. Bassanio, who was unlike others.
In one dialogue Portia said: "Yes, yes, it was Bassanio.........."
Answer:
(1) Portia behaves differently with all the other suitors except Bassanio. She taunts and teases the rest of her suitors by saying about one that he could live with the horses as he keeps talking about the horses. She makes fun of another one that he is sad and melancholy.
(2) Portia is not only beautiful but brainy, energetic and witty and she feels that Bassanio would be the right match for her. So, she keeps on giving him hints to win the test. This is a new side of Portia that we get to read.
Explanation:
Portia does not find any of these suitors to be her match except Bassanio. She loves Bassanio, but as she is bound by her promise to her father she is forced to keep quiet.
Bassanio can see the love for him in her eyes and as he too is in love with her, he is wary of opening the casket, lest he might choose the wrong one and lose her forever.
Portia asks him to take the test after two months. She keeps dropping hints as she too is scared that she might lose Bassanio.