Questions & Answers (Long Answer-type) : The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice: Long Answer-type Qs

Portia’s Character

Among all female characters in Shakespeare’s plays, Portia’s character is the most developed round character. She has all the qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, farsightedness, presence of mind, wit and humour, kindness, poetic mind and romance in her heart.

She is introduced to the reader/audience in Act I, Scene (ii). In this scene, she is discussing with Nerissa, her attendant, about her father’s will. She feels caught in a difficult position. She is unable to choose husband of her own choice due to that will. She has to welcome unknown people who come to her mansion to try their luck to win her hand for marriage. In spite of that, she honours her father’s will up to the last stage when Bassanio succeeds in choosing the right casket. She does not reveal any clue about the right casket to Bassanio. She wants that he must select the right casket and marry her.

It seems she has love at first sight with Bassanio when he visits Belmont and meets her late father. When Nerissa mentions Bassanio’s name to her, she feels excited and says, “Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.”

Then we find Portia’s love for Bassanio blooming forth in the main casket scene, Act III, Scene (ii), in which Bassanio takes part and wins her hand. She does not want that Bassanio should choose the wrong casket. She tells him not to hurry and take much time before deciding about his choice. She enjoys his company most.
Whatever she speaks in this scene is most poetic and romantic and shows her love for Bassanio. Her joy knows no bound when he chooses the right casket.

Portia has all the qualities of head and heart. She is wise and intelligent. She is able to read human minds. She knows well that Bassanio would prove faithful to her. She understands Shylock and his evil mind in the Duke’s court. Her wisdom turns the tables on Shylock. Her farsightedness and presence of mind are proven when she leaves for Venice to help Antonio. It also shows her feelings of sympathy. She keeps her and Nerissa’s identity secret. This also shows her maturity.

Thus it may be concluded safely that Portia’s character in this play is fully developed.