Merchant of Venice

The play I have studied is Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. The character I believe deserves the title heroine is Portia. Portia, as I will explain is quite an atypical hero figure. She is rich and beautiful, so we assume wrongly at first that she will be spoilt and inconsequential to the action of the play. This could not be further from the truth. Portia is not to be underestimated. Without Portia, there would be no titular merchant at the end of this Romantic Comedy.

Portia may be ‘fair’ and ‘richly left’ but she is not a prize to be won. We quickly learn that Portia has intelligence and razor wit when we first meet her musing on her marital dilemma with her confidante, Nerissa. One by one she dismisses her suitors wryly and sharply. Though this may seem snarky rather than heroic, one could argue Portia must have heroic patience to endure all these tiresome men. It must also be noted that heroes have depth, which Portia has also.

Portia is an admired figure and her ‘wondrous virtues’ shine from early on in the play. After meeting Morocco she treats him with dignity and respect. Conversely, Arragon, who has no redeemable features, is treated coldly. She treats people how they deserve to be treated. Portia exhibits loyalty and integrity throughout the caskets scenes. These traits are fundamental heroic qualities. We clearly see how she struggles when Bassanio is making his choice. Portia wants to help him, but she would never break her vow, ‘I could teach you how to choose right, but then I am forsworn’.

However heroes must of course take action. As soon as Bassanio hears of Antonio’s worsened state, she springs into action. Whilst Antonio langusishes in a jail cell passively accepting his fate, Portia devises a cunning plan to literally save the day. She tells her messenger ‘get thee gone: I shall be there before thee’. Here Portia reveals she plans to disguise herself as a young lawyer and go to Venice.

Portia adheres to the old adage of if you want anything done properly, do it yourself. But, it’s a man’s world, so Portia disguises herself accordingly. Her intellectual prowess ensures she plays the part of Balthazar undetected. Portia exudes such authority and matter-of-factness that she earns Shylock’s approval, ‘O wise and upright Judge!’ She doesn’t even ‘do a little wrong’ for her husband, Bassanio. She is determined to stick to the letter of the law also, just like Shylock. But like all good heroes, she has a plan.

Portia eloquently speaks of mercy in order to encourage Shylock to act accordingly. She tells us that ‘it is not strain’d; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath’. Heroes don’t destroy- the give all villains a chance of redemption. But Shylock refuses, it is not specified in the bond. She asks will he accept three times the sum. No. Will he send for a surgeon? No. It is here Portia reveals dramatically, but not joyfully that shylock must ‘tarry’. He cannot spill ‘one drop of Christian blood’. Shylock is undone.

Many writers have criticized Portia for toying with Bassanio in the final act about the ring. However Portia never lets it get too far. Before the newlyweds have even spent a week together, Bassanio has already had his first warning. But that’s Portia, being a hero is tiring work- and when it’s back to Belmont, it’s back to fun and games. Yes. There’s more to Portia than meets the eye.