Question

Bring out the importance of the character and role of portia in the merchant of venice

Answer 1

Portia is the heroine of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. A rich, beautiful, and intelligent heiress of Belmont, she is bound by the lottery set forth in her father's will, which gives potential suitors the chance to choose between three caskets. If they choose the right casket, they win Portia's hand in marriage. If they choose the incorrect casket, they must leave and never seek another woman in marriage. She is said to be blonde and has curly hair (sunny golden locks). As Bassanio says to Antonio in Act I scene I, she is more beautiful than the word itself. It is also seen that she is racist as she says that she will rather accept The Prince of Morocco as her religious adviser than her husband because of his dark complexion, which she refers as that of The Devil. She favours a young Venetian noble, soldier and a scholar, Bassanio. Later in the play, she disguises herself as a man, then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice (named Balthazar) whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court.