William Shakespeare s Portia - 1535 Words

A protagonist is also often the character around whom the action of the play revolves. By this test, Portia is also the protagonist, as without her, very little in the play would have remained the same. Had Bassanio not been in love with Portia, he never would have asked Antonio for the money to woo her and Antonio would not have entered into the bond with Shylock. Similarly, had the laws in the Court of Justice been interpreted by any other lawyer, it I likely that Antonio would have lost his life. At 588 lines, Portia also has more lines than any other character; 233 more than Shylock s 355 lines and 400 more than Antonio s 188. Because of this, the scenes surrounding the caskets in Portia s home should be viewed as trials for the protagonist, and not a sub-plot, as they are often described. By any definition, Portia is the protagonist of the play-- she exhibits the greatest change, the action of the play revolves around her, and she has the largest number of spoken lines. Given her importance to the play, how can the title, The Merchant of Venice, be reconciled? After all, Portia appears to be neither Venetian nor a merchant. While the play treats Belmont as a distant locale from Venice, a close reading indicates that the two are in quite close proximity. When Portia is telling Nerissa of her plan to save Antonio, she tells Nerissa that they must measure twenty miles to-day (3.4.84). Because Portia must be back at Belmont before Bassanio arrives there onShow MoreRelatedPortia s Speech From Act 3 Scene 2 Of William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1352 Words   |  6 Pagesambiguous title of the play and creates a â€Å"mercantile metaphor† which can be seen projected through Portia throughout this speech. From the outset the language contains embedded references to Portia’s financial wealth, which is at first glance masked by perhaps having sexual connotations. For instance the rhetorical statement â€Å"You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am† could be seen as Portia presenting herself and her body to her new husband Bassanio in a suggestive manner however, â€Å"suchRead More Marriage Relationships in Julius Caesar Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesCaesar      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The relationship between Brutus and Portia is of a loving one. Portia speaks to Brutus gently calling him, my dear lord and `gentle this actually shows that Portia respects and honors Brutus. Brutus also replies her gently and expresses his love for her in the lines `render me worthy of this noble wife and `as dear to me as are the ruddy drops/that visits my sad heart. In these lines, Brutus says that Portia is as dear to him as the blood in his heart. This shows thatRead MoreCritique Of The Constancy Upon Women At The Time in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice875 Words   |  4 PagesCritique Of The Constancy Upon Women At The Time in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice In the merchant of Venice Shakespeare has presented three main women characters. These three characters are, Portia, Jessica and Nerissa. Each of these characters come with a different area of society. Women in the time this was set, were not aloud to do anything. They were treated badly, and couldnt chose there own decisions. Shakespeare has made this play to show people in thoseRead MoreThe Three Plots of The Merchant of Venice779 Words   |  4 Pagesmarriage. In the next main plot line that arises, the casket plot, Bassanio plays a much more major role as Portia’s suitor. He and Portia are the central characters of this plot. Bassanio and Portia are also two of the central characters in the ring plot along with Nerissa and Gratiano, whose relationship acts as a parallel to the relationship between Bassanio and Portia. Bassanio has one of the major roles in all three of the main plot lines of the play, but his role in each is different. In theRead More Portrayal of Women in William Shakespeares Plays Essay3560 Words   |  15 PagesWilliam Shakespeares characterization of women varies immensely from one comedy to another. In his works, Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing, he portrays both dominant and submissive women. Ultimately, Shakespeare examines the complexity of women by displaying the vast array of attitudes, emotions, and their treatment and reaction to men as well as refuting the typical subservient wife role. In Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew, the difficultiesRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1102 Words   |  5 Pagesinferior to those of men. Women’s rights have been progressed as time has passed, but even today, women are being treated unfairly in certain situations. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effectiveRead More Merchant of Venice Essay: Antonios Love for Bassanio1721 Words   |  7 Pagesextremest means (137). We find out later that Bassanio needs money to woo Portia, a noble heiress who Bassanio intends to marry. And though Antonio is not in a position to loan money at the time, he does not disappoint Bassanio: Neither have I money, nor commodity To raise a present sum; therefore, go forth; Try what my credit can in Venice do: That shall be racket, even to the uttermost, To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. (124-128) Antonio does not make these offers to any other characterRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1320 Words   |  6 Pagesghetto, and were treated as inferior to the rest of the city. William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice exhibits the prejudicial attitudes of his era. Antonio, a Christian merchant, makes a deal with Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock uses it as an opportunity to exact revenge by demanding a pound of Antonio’s flesh if he does not meet his end of the bargain. By pitting the majority of his characters against Shylock, Shakespeare portrays Shylock in a way that discriminates against all JewsRead More`` The Merchant Of Venice `` By William Shakespeare1147 Words   |  5 Pageseverywhere, even the most minute of actions can place someone in jeopardy. It is an inescapable labyrinth that plagues the lives of all ever since humanity’s first existence. Yet it,s double-edged sword like characteristics of also providing oppor tunities and gains keeps many enthralled in it. In William Shakespeare s’ The Merchant of Venice, Antonio, a protagonist, gives himself over to a life-threatening contract with the villain, Shylock the Jew, in order to provide the means for one of Antonio’sRead MoreMerchant Of Venice Essay Outline956 Words   |  4 Pagesencourage the characters into action. Bridge: When you read The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare there are many themes throughout the play and many lessons to be learned. Main Ideas: The most important themes are hatred, mercy and friendship. Hatred is important because it creates rivalry amongst the characters . Friendship motivates the heros and allows for there to be a logical conclusion as both Shakespeare and his characters work out their prejudices. Mercy is a significant theme because