essay about portia in the merchant of venice

Portia Merchant Of Venice Essay

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. The story revolves around the character of Portia, a wealthy heiress who is forced to marry a man she does not love. The play is full of suspense and drama, and has been adapted for stage and screen many times. Portia is one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, and her story continues to captivate audiences centuries after the play was first written.

Is Portia the finest female Shakespearean part? Portia is one of Shakespeares greatest roles for a actress, and she displays great wits and intellect in this play. Those are characteristics that no other female character has previously displayed. The Merchant of Venice was written by Shakespeare between 1595 and 1598, and some of the important characters include Antonio, Portia, Shylock, Bassanio, Lorenzo, Jessica Gratiano ,Nerissa Launcelot Gobbo ,and County Palatine.

The play is set in the city of Venice and the surrounding areas. The Merchant Of Venice is a story about Antonio, a Christian merchant who borrows money from his Jewish friend Shylock, to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. The loan comes with a condition: if Antonio cannot repay the debt within three months, Shylock can take a pound of Antonios flesh.

When the time comes, Shylock demands his payment, but Antonio has lost all his ships at sea and cannot repay the debt. The Duke of Venice orders that Shylocks claim be heard in court, where Portia serves as judge. She disguises herself as a lawyer and uses her wit and intelligence to save Antonios life and defeat Shylock.

Portia is one of the most intelligent and well-spoken characters in all of Shakespeares plays. She is able to think on her feet and come up with a creative solution to the problem at hand. Portia is also a very strong woman who isnt afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Shes a true feminist heroine.

Portia is one of the best female Shakespearean parts because she is such a strong, intelligent and well-spoken character. The role presents a great challenge for any actress, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience to play such a complex and multi-faceted character. If youre looking for a challenging and rewarding role, then consider auditioning for The Merchant Of Venice and playing the part of Portia. You wont regret it!

In The Merchant of Venice, Portia has a number of lengthy speeches in which she demonstrates her intellect by making fun of her suitors or expressing her love for Bassanio and affection for law. When Bassanio tells Portia about the bond, the sequence begins with In Belmont there is a lady richly endowed. This is demonstrated when Bassanio informs her about the outstanding quantity of money owed. She adds What, no more? after learning about the amount owing and instructs him to pay off six thousand dollars and deface the bond; then double it again.

Shakespeare also makes it clear that she is very beautiful by the way Bassanio and the other suitors talk about her. In The Merchant Of Venice, Shakespeare presents Portia as a strong and intelligent woman who is able to hold her own in a male-dominated society.

As Portia became aware that Bassanio was not as rich as the other suitors, she noticed something new about him. Portia had enough money to live on; she did not need a wealthy suitor, so she fell in love with the guy whom she thought might really care for her rather than just want to get richer.

When Bassanio informed her of the contract, however, Portia immediately agreed to assist Antonio with the cash and Shylock’s defeat. In the courtroom scene, when Portia pretends to be The Doctor Of Law and demands to help out, she gets a chance to demonstrate her wit and legal knowledge.

She easily defeats Shylock with her knowledge and rhetoric, and in the end, she gets Bassanio back, as well as a fair amount of money. Portia is one of Shakespeare’s strongest and most intelligent female characters.

When The Merchant Of Venice was first written, women’s roles were very different than they are now. Women were not allowed to participate in any form of business or economy, and their main purpose was to get married and have children. Shakespeare subverted these norms by writing Portia as a strong female character who is not only intelligent and well-educated, but also capable of besting men in court. This would have been shocking and controversial to audiences at the time, but it is one of the things that makes The Merchant Of Venice so timeless.

Portia is a great example of Shakespeare’s skill as a playwright. She is a fully developed character with her own motivations and desires. She is not simply there to help the men or to be a love interest; she is an active participant in the plot, and her scenes are some of the most memorable in the play. If you are interested in seeing a strong female character on stage, then you should definitely check out The Merchant Of Venice. You won’t be disappointed.

Shylock bargained for a pound of Antonio’s flesh, which Portia accepted. However, because she states that she is a trainee and well-versed in the law, she is permitted to do so. If Portia had no knowledge of the law, she would not have been able to help Antonio win his case against Shylock.

During her case, Portia appeared to side with Shylock by agreeing with his right to the bond. She stated, Why this bond should be forfeited; and lawfully by this phrasing, the Jew may claim a pound of flesh at any time during the year In this scene’s opening segment, it appears as if she will side with Shylock and assist him.

However, as the scene goes on, it becomes clear that she is siding with Antonio and trying to help him. The way she does this is by using her knowledge of the law to find a loophole that will save Antonio’s life. The loophole she finds is that the bond says that Shylock can take a pound of flesh, but it does not say anything about taking blood.

She tells the court that if Shylock takes any blood from Antonio, then he will be breaking the law and will be immediately put to death. This saves Antonio’s life and leads to Shylock’s downfall. Portia is therefore able to use her knowledge of the law to help someone in need and defeat someone who was trying to harm them. This makes her a very admirable character.

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A Summary and Analysis of Portia’s ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’ Speech

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The quality of mercy is not strained’: this memorable speech from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is spoken by Portia, who has disguised herself as a male lawyer in order to defend Antonio – the title character of the play – from Shylock, the Jewish moneylender who has demanded a ‘pound of flesh’ from Antonio in exchange for an unpaid debt. Portia’s ‘quality of mercy’ speech sees her appeal (or attempt to appeal) to Shylock’s merciful disposition, although she ultimately fails, because he hasn’t got one.

Before we analyse the ‘quality of mercy’ speech in more detail, here’s a quick reminder of the background to the speech.

There are two main plot strands to The Merchant of Venice , both closely intertwined. The first involves Portia, the wealthy heiress of Belmont, who decides that she will marry whichever suitor picks the right casket when faced with a choice of three (made of gold, silver, and lead).

The second involves a loan the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, makes to Antonio, the merchant of the play’s title. These two plot lines are connected because Antonio borrows money from Shylock in order to help out his friend, Bassanio, who wishes to finance a trip to Belmont to try his hand at Portia’s ‘three caskets’ trial.

The terms of the loan are as follows: Antonio will repay the money to Shylock when his ships return from their voyage; if he fails to pay up then, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh.

When Antonio’s ships are declared lost at sea, he cannot repay the debt to Shylock, who promptly demands his pound of flesh. The phrase ‘pound of flesh’ has, of course, become proverbial and entered common use, used to refer to an unreasonably high demand made of someone.

These two threads run through the play, becoming united towards the end of the play, when Portia disguises herself as a male lawyer, Balthazar, in order to defend Antonio against Shylock’s knife. In Act 4 Scene 1, during the courtroom scene, Portia delivers the speech which has become one of the most famous in all of The Merchant of Venice .

Let’s go through the speech bit by bit, summarising its content and analysing its features.

The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

Portia (disguised as Balthazar) tells Shylock, and the court, that mercy is an essential human quality. Being kind and forgiving towards those over whom we have some power is a noble pursuit. Note Shakespeare’s clever use of ‘strained’ here: mercy is ‘not strained’ in that it is doesn’t need to be forced, but nor is it con strained (or, indeed, re strained) in most of us. It is as natural as rainfall – which, of course, falls from ‘heaven’, where God resides.

There is something noble about being merciful, because you treat those ‘beneath’ you – those over whom you have power – kindly when you could easily do others. Mercy is ‘twice blessed’ because the person you are merciful towards is thankful for your mercy, but the one bestowing the mercy is ‘blessed’ too – by God.

It’s also true that we often feel better about ourselves if we are kind towards others and show them mercy.

At the same time, of course, there is something ironic in Portia’s rhetorical recourse to Shylock’s innate sense of mercy. If mercy is such a natural quality within us, why does he need to be reminded of it? If it is ‘not strained’ but freely given, why is the court case happening at all?

The answer, of course, is that Portia is cleverly – and rhetorically – hinting to Shylock that mercy is a natural human impulse which mirrors God’s mercy towards us. So if he refuses to act mercifully towards his debtor, Antonio, then Shylock is not only suggesting he is unnatural or abnormal, but also not following God’s example.

’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown.

When the most powerful people in society – such as kings and queens – show mercy, it is even more significant, because it would be so easy for a monarch not to show mercy towards their subjects. But again, Portia cleverly suggests to Shylock that mercy in a monarch is a natural and becoming quality, suiting them even more than the crown upon their head.

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway.

Similarly, a king’s sceptre – the ornamental staff which he carries with him on ceremonial occasions – may symbolise his power here on earth (‘temporal power’ as distinct from spiritual or divine power), and this makes people ‘dread’ and go in ‘awe’ of their king; but mercy is an even higher and nobler attribute than power.

It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God Himself;

Continuing the throne-king motif, Portia argues that God, too, shows the power of mercy. He is willing to forgive us for our sins, so he is merciful towards us.

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this:

When justice is ‘seasoned’ or accompanied by mercy here on Earth, we are most like God in our ability to be just but also merciful . Shylock has claimed that he wants ‘justice’ – his pound of Antonio’s flesh – but where is the evidence of his mercy?

That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,

If this ‘course of justice’ – i.e. justice without mercy – is followed, then nobody involved in the verdict deserves to be given God’s salvation, because they are failing to follow his (merciful) example.

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.

Portia reminds Shylock, a Jew, that Christians (‘We’) pray to God for mercy, and through doing so, Christians realise the importance of practising mercy towards others in their own lives.

She (as Balthazar) sums up her speech by saying that she has tried to temper Shylock’s requested ‘justice’ (he wants that pound of flesh!) with mercy, but if he insists on justice (without mercy) the ‘strict court’ of the city state of Venice will have to find in Shylock’s favour and condemn Antonio, the merchant of Venice, to give up his pound of flesh in order to fulfil Shylock’s wishes.

Of course, giving up a pound of his flesh would involve Antonio’s almost certain death. Shylock doesn’t care, and Portia’s plea that he show ‘the quality of mercy’ falls on deaf ears.

In the end, she manages to defend Antonio from Shylock’s knife by bringing up a legal technicality: although Antonio agreed to pay up a pound of his flesh if he defaulted on his debt, the bond said nothing about his giving Shylock his blood, and Shylock would be unable to remove the merchant’s flesh without drawing blood.

2 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of Portia’s ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’ Speech”

We just studied this play in AP Lit. The irony is how the Christians showed little mercy to the Jews in the play, yet expected it. Shylock even mentions he learned his behavior from the examples the Christians showed him. It is a fascinating play and the students thought it is one still applicable to today.

It is why we need constantly to be immersed in Scripture because we humans so easily forget God’s great eternal and blessed qualities and so need constant reminding from God’s Word.

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Portia, The Merchant of Venice

Portia is a character in Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice . She’s not exactly like the characters usually classed as strong women in Shakespeare (like Rosalind or Lady Macbeth ) because she isn’t called on to make a stand on anything, do something courageous, or defy some of the obstacles stacked up against women in Elizabethan times. But she’s not one of the oppressed women either.

Portia is one of Shakespeare’s women who appear disguised as men through most of their presence on the stage. Apart from the dramatic function of this trick, Shakespeare used a gender switch as a way of putting less strain on the audience’s suspension of disbelief. The boy actor would come on as a woman then, soon after, disguise herself as a man and, being a male himself, appear more realistic, and that would be a little more comfortable for the actor – a boy playing a boy. He would do that through most of the play then reveal himself as a woman in the last scene.

Lynn Collins plays Portia in The Merchant of Venice

Portia, an only child, has recently lost her wealthy father, a citizen of Belmont. He has doted on her and, unusually for the time, educated her to the point where she has become a legal scholar. She is also beautiful, and knowing that because of her beauty and because of her wealth, she will be pursued by the good and the bad, many of them fortune hunters, he devised a scheme to try and ensure that she would end up with a worthy husband.

He has stipulated that wooers would have to choose one of three caskets –  gold, silver, and lead. One of them would contain her portrait and the first to choose that would be a suitable husband.

One of the suiters is the penniless Bassanio of Venice. He has borrowed the money to try his luck with Portia from his friend Antonio, a Venetian merchant.

Antonio has had to borrow the money to lend Bassanio from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock , as his ships are late and he won’t have the money until they arrive. Shylock has jokingly said that if Antonio is late with the payment the penalty will be a pound of his flesh. Antonio has agreed to that.

In the event, the ships are late. At the same time, Shylock’s daughter has eloped with a Christian and taken his money and jewellery. He is enraged by the way the Christians have behaved and demands his pound of flesh. He appeals to the Duke to hold a trial and give him his rights.

In the meantime, Bassanio has chosen the right casket and is engaged to Portia. He learns that the Duke of Venice doesn’t know how to deal with the case and asks Portia to disguise herself as a famous young law scholar and act as a judge in the case, which she does. There is a court case in which Portia shows a great deal of knowledge, creativity and intelligence, and while granting Shylock the pound of Antonio’s flesh, rules that it is illegal for anyone to shed a drop of Christain blood. He can cut his pound of flesh from Antonio’s body but he can’t shed any blood or cut an ounce more or less than the pound. Shylock is therefore defeated.

Portia’s main claim to fame in the halls of English dramatic literature is that she delivers one of the most famous monologues, filled with some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful poetry, expressing some of the wisest sentiments that exist in any play: The quality of mercy is not strained .

As a character in a Shakespeare play, Portia is interestingly different from most characters. She doesn’t actually have a dramatic role in the story, although that sounds ridiculous as her conduct of the trial and her judgment are hugely dramatic. However, she plays little part in the development of the main story. It is a story about Venetian society and the relationship between Christians and Jews with its set of characters that develop the story. There is a trial in the story and that’s where Portia comes in. She, an outsider, and Shylock, a major character in the main story, dominate this long scene.

Although we see Portia as a virtuous, honest young woman, somewhat playful, and with a sense of humour, none of her characteristics play any part in the drama in the sense that Juliet’s or Cleopatra’s or Lady Macbeth’s qualities and personalities are organic to the drama. All we need from Portia is that she be a good lawyer. What kind of person she is is neither here nor there. Juliet’s impatience, Lady Macbeth’s ambition, and Cleopatra’s fickleness are major plot drivers: they are all central characters in the story of the play they are in. Portia is not.

Top Portia Quotes

It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. ( act 1, scene 2 )

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions: I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. ( act 1, scene 2 )

He will fence with his own shadow. ( act 1, scene 2 )

I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise. ( act 1, scene 2 )

The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o’er a cold decree. ( act 1, scene 2 )

One half of me is yours, the other half yours, Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so all yours. ( act 3, scene 2 )

Beshrew your eyes, They have o’erlook’d me and divided me; One half of me is yours, the other half yours, Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so all yours. ( act 3, scene 2 )

How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. ( act 5, scene 1 )

The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ( act 4, scene 1 )

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The Merchant of Venice | The Merchant of Venice summary | The Merchant of Venice characters : Portia , Shylock | The Merchant of Venice settings | The Merchant of Venice in modern English | The Merchant of Venice full text | Modern The Merchant of Venice ebook | The Merchant of Venice quotes | The Merchant of Venice monologues | The Merchant of Venice soliloquies

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The Merchant of Venice

Portia is a fascinating character in William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice . She is a wealthy and intelligent heiress from Belmont, and her character is known for her wit, beauty, and strong sense of justice. Portia is portrayed as a woman who defies societal expectations and uses her intelligence to outsmart those around her.

As the play begins, Portia is bound by her deceased father's will, which states that she must marry the man who chooses the correct casket among three options – gold, silver, and lead. Portia, however, is not thrilled about this arrangement and hopes to find love on her own terms. She is highly sought after by many suitors, including the wealthy Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon.

Under the guise of a man, Portia's character takes on a new dimension as she disguises herself as a young lawyer named Balthazar. She uses her intelligence and quick thinking to help her husband's friend Antonio, who is in a legal dispute with the cunning Jewish moneylender Shylock. Portia delivers one of the most memorable speeches in the play, known as the "Quality of Mercy" speech, where she argues for compassion and forgiveness over strict adherence to the law.

Portia's courtroom triumph

One of the most significant moments in Portia's character arc comes when she saves Antonio from Shylock's vengeful demands. Portia enters the courtroom disguised as Balthazar and skillfully manipulates the law to turn the tables on Shylock. She ultimately outwits him by exploiting a loophole in his bond, which states that he is entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh, but no blood can be shed in the process.

Portia's intelligence and quick thinking enable her to save Antonio's life and expose the flaws in the legal system. Her triumph in the courtroom showcases her immense wit and her ability to solve complex problems with ease. It also highlights her deep understanding of human nature and her commitment to justice.

Portia's character is multi-faceted, and she embodies the qualities of a strong and independent woman. She is not afraid to challenge societal norms and uses her intelligence to navigate difficult situations. Portia's journey in The Merchant of Venice is one of self-discovery, love, and the pursuit of justice in a male-dominated world.

The Merchant of Venice

William shakespeare, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions, portia quotes in the merchant of venice.

Portia - Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'

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Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is one of the Bard's most beloved characters.

The Love Test

Portia's fate is determined by the love test her father gives to her suitors. She is unable to choose her own suitor but is forced to marry whoever passes. She has wealth but has no control over her own destiny. When Bassanio passes the test, Portia immediately agrees to divest all her riches, property, and power over to him in order to be his loving and dutiful wife. She is passed from one man’s control—her father’s—to another—her husband’s:

"As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now converted: but now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o'er myself. And even now, but now, This house, these servants and this same myself Are yours, my lord’s" (Act 3 Scene 2, 170-176).

One wonders what is in it for her... other than companionship and, hopefully, love? Let’s hope that her father’s test really is foolproof, in that the suitor is proven to love her through his choice. As an audience, we know the lengths to which Bassanio has gone to win her hand, so this gives us hope that Portia will be happy with Bassanio.

"Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued To Cato’s daughter, Brutus’ Portia. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, For the four winds blow in from every coast Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchis’ strand, And many Jasons come in quest of her" ( Act 1 Scene 1, 165-172).

Let’s hope Bassanio is not just after her money but, in choosing the lead casket, we are to assume he is not.

Character Revealed

We later discover Portia’s true grit, resourcefulness, intelligence, and wit through her dealings with Shylock in court, and many a modern audience might lament her fate at having to go back to court and be the dutiful wife she promised to be. It is also a pity that her father did not see her true potential in this way and, in doing so, he may not have determined his ‘love test’ necessary but trusted his daughter to make the right choice off her own back.

Portia ensures that Bassanio is made aware of her alter ego; in disguise as the judge, she makes him give her the ring that she has given him. In doing so, she can prove that it was she posing as the judge and that it was she who was able to save his friend’s life and, to and extent, Bassanio's life and reputation. Her position of power and substance in that relationship is therefore established. This sets a precedent for their life together and allows the audience some comfort in thinking that she will maintain some power in that relationship.

Shakespeare and Gender

Portia is the heroine of the piece when all the men in the play have failed, financially, by the law, and by their own vengeful behavior. She swoops in and saves everyone from themselves. However, she is only able to do this by dressing up as a man .

As Portia’s journey demonstrates, Shakespeare recognizes the intellect and abilities that women have but concedes that they can only be demonstrated when on a level playing field with men. Many of Shakespeare’s women show their wit and cunning when they are disguised as men. Rosalind as Ganymede in As You Like It is another example.

As a woman, Portia is submissive and obedient; as the judge and as a man, she demonstrates her intelligence and her brilliance. She is the same person but is empowered by dressing as a man and, in doing so, she hopefully gains the respect and equal footing she deserves in her relationship:

"If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave that ring, Or your own honour to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring" (Act 5 Scene 1, 199-202).

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Merchant of Venice

The merchant of venice’s portia: friend or foe breanna harris college.

Perhaps one of William Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, The Merchant of Venice presents the game of three caskets with the high stakes of marriage to the wealthy and beautiful Portia if you choose correctly, or a life of solitude should you fail. The character Bassanio takes on the precarious challenge and after choosing correctly, makes one of the most popular speeches of the play. The speech is widely analyzed for its peculiar language that lends speculation into what Bassanio actually thinks of Portia and of winning the game. After a close reading of the speech, Bassanio’s dialogue can be interpreted to express his fear of Portia’s overwhelming beauty and being married to such an independent, wealthy woman.

Inside the winning lead casket lies a picture of Portia, which Bassanio picks up before beginning his speech. Bassanio announces, “The painter plays the spider, and hath woven / A golden mesh t’untrap the hearts of men / Faster than gnats in cobwebs” (III.ii.121-123). Initially this statement reads as a compliment to Portia’s great beauty, claiming her hair is so alluring it traps the hearts of all men. But trapping the hearts of men has a sinister undertone to it, potentially suggesting Bassanio believes Portia is...

GradeSaver provides access to 2312 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Merchant of Venice — Portia and Bassanio Relationship in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Portia and Bassanio Relationship in 'The Merchant of Venice'

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Published: Aug 14, 2023

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Portia’s selfishness in her relationship with bassanio.

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