Bassanio And Portia example essay topic

Portia is truly the heroine in The Merchant of Venice. She is a wealthy heiress from Belmont, and is both beautiful and witty. She seems to more intelligent than the men around her. She is also the one most in control, that is once she marries Bassanio. Portia, disguised as the young lawyer, single-handedly saved Antonio. Then in Act V she provided comic relief when questioning Bassanio about his ring.

Though Portia was able to toy and trick Bassanio, the two really do deserve each other. Before Bassanio arrive at Portia's doorsteps, she was in a dispirit situation. She was bound by her late father to stay in Belmont until the right man chose the right casket. Bassanio and Portia had a connection and fell in love with each other. In a sense Bassanio was her hero who liberated her and allowed her to be the strong female she truly was.

Antonio was in also in a very dispirit situation. He had made a legal and binding contract with Shylock. It was understood at the time of the agreement that if Antonio was unable to repay the loan, he would have to forfeit a pound of flesh to the moneylender. Many, such as the Duke, Gratia no, and Bassanio, tried unsuccessfully to convince Shylock to be less harsh on Antonio.

The situation seemed to be hopeless until Portia, dressed as Balthasar the young lawyer, arrived. Portia stated that according to the laws of Venice, Shylock was indeed entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. This statement excited everyone. Shylock was getting ready to take his pound of flesh, as Antonio prepared to die. Just then Portia stepped in by saying that the contract only spoke of a pound of flesh, it said nothing of losing an ounce of blood.

She then charges Shylock with attempt to kill a Venetian citizen. Her actions saved Antonio and lead to the downfall of the antagonist; a task that no other main (male) character could pull off. After the trial, Antonio convinced Bassanio to give his ring (wedding band) to the young lawyer. Later, in Act V, Portia arrived as herself. She asked Bassanio what happened with his ring, knowing full well what he did with it.

The situation created by Portia is dramatically ironic. She watched as Bassanio nervously reacted to her questions and comments. Here is where the sense of her having control over the men become clearly evident to the audience / reader. It is clear that Portia had more power over her male counterparts.

She was more intelligent as well had more control. She wasn't blinded so much by emotions as the rest of them, and instead used her mind and wit in order to save the day. Perhaps Portia should be considered the protagonist rather than the foolish Antonio.