What was portia's role in the trial scene merchant of venice?
Answers
Answer:
Portia took up the role of a lawyer whose name was Balthazar. she did so because she wanted to prevent shylock from winning the case and antonia suffering at the hands of the bond
Answer:
Explanation:
The trial scene is an important scene of the play 'The Merchant of Venice'
which sets the ground for logic, justice, and righteousness.
Shylock, smitten by his prejudice, wants to ruin Antonio on the basis
of the bond signed by Antonio. By means of the bond, Antonio has to
give a pound of his flesh if he doesn't pay the loan borrowed from
Shylock to help his friend. Though Bassanio is ready to pay double
the amount of the loan, i.e. six thousand ducats, Shylock is bent
upon meeting the condition in the bond. Antonio would have fallen
a prey to Shylock's dark design if Portia had not come cross-dressed
to help her husband and his friend.
Portia plays an important role as she not only has a thorough knowledge
of the Venetian law, but she also has the art of oration which can sway
the audience. Firstly, she appeals for mercy as mercy can place a man
on a high pedestal due to its divine quality.
When she makes out that expecting mercy from a cunning
and conniving Shylock is a waste, she reads the bond and makes
it clear that since the bond mentions a pound of flesh only, it should
be cut in a way that Antonio doesn't bleed to death. If he does,
Shylock will be accused of plotting against Antonio and killing him.
She also talks about the punishment declared in the Venetian court
if anyone directly or indirectly tries to kill a Christian.
Shylock is trapped in his own web and bound by the law to live
as a Christian for the rest of his life apart from giving away his wealth
to his daughter Jessica who had fled and married a Christian.
The role of Portia not only reflects the power a woman
can possess in the male dominated society but it also
concludes that evil can never triumph.