Literary devices are frequently used throughout acts four and five of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Some of the most prominent devices used on TMOF are dramatic irony, allusion and symbolism. These devices help further develop theme ingrained in the story such as marriage, deceive, wealth, and religion.
Portia dressed herself up as a lawyer so she could help Antonio in court. She did not want him to know who she was as that might influence the choices he might make.Jan 23, 2020
Portia says that if strict justice were to be meted out to all, no one could enter heaven. We all pray to God for mercy, We pray to God to forgive us our trespasses that we may forgive those who trespass against us.Dec 30, 2021
BalthazarShe favoured Bassanio, a young Venetian noble, but is not allowed to give him any clues to assist in his choice. Later in the play, she disguises herself as a man, then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice (named Balthazar) whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court.
Portia pleaded the case of Antonio against he court. She wanted that Antonio should be saved at any cost. She was very intelligent. The Duke was the judge in the trial.
Portia was there to defend Antonio against Shylock's claim to a pound of his flesh for forfeiting on a bond which he had signed as a guarantee for the repayment of a loan in the amount of three thousand ducats.
Answer: This phrase is taken from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. It occurs where Portia demands Shylock be merciful, stating that “The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon the place beneath” (Act-IV, Scene-I).Feb 25, 2021
Portia's response to Bassanio's admission is interesting. She first asks how much money Bassanio owes Antonio and is shocked that it is such a low amount (in her opinion); she then tells him just to pay the amount, even triple what is owed if that is what will solve the problem (she implies that she will pay the debt).Sep 29, 2021
Answer: Portia outwits Shylock by focussing on the minute details that he has missed. She allows him to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's chest, but clarifies that the bond does not mention anything about blood. Therefore, the law does not allow Shylock to shed even a single drop of blood while taking the flesh.Feb 26, 2021
The character of Portia in Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice portrays a very strong and confident personality who has found a suitor of her liking, Bassanio. Before Portia is to be wedd, she must observe Bassanio as he must choose from three caskets, and only one will allow him to be with her.
Answer. Bassanio describes Portia as the queen of beauty, a lady with a lot of wealth and a honourable one . He says that Portia is the most beautiful woman in the world and whosoever would win her , his charm would glitter up .Jul 19, 2018
Portia and Nerissa go to Venice disguised as a lawyer and clerk. In the courtroom, the Duke asks Shylock to show some compassion and Bassanio offers 6000 ducats to repay Antonio's loan. Portia appears, disguised as Balthazar.
In Portia 's famous speech about mercy, given when she is disguised as a male lawyer, she uses a metaphor, or comparison, likening mercy to a gentle rain that is undeserved but blesses and nurtures what it falls upon.
In a sense Shylock is symbolic of the unethical jewish moneylenders and merchants of Venice. Portia makes a pun of the word "will" in her conversation to her waiting woman, Nerissa,
And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself; (ll.53-55) Metaphor is used in Act 3, Scene 5 as Lorenzo says, "An army of good words" suggesting how words can be subject to multiple interpretations. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team.
Allusion is used. In Act I, Scene I, for instance, Salerio, a friend of Antonio refers to "two-headed Janus," a Roman god of entrances and all beginnings (l.50) Also, in this scene, Gratiano alludes to a Greek oracle when he says,"I am a sir Oracle.".
Shakespeare also uses imagery to paint a vivid contrast between a shining, gilded tomb and the worms within it. This imagery also uses the device of juxtaposition of two sharply contrasting images, in this case gilt and worms. Consider the first two lines of the play: Antonio.
The courtroom scene uses dramatic irony, which is the literary device in which the audience knows something the characters in the play do not. This is a favorite technique of Shakespeare's. Here, the audience knows the lawyer is Portia, but the characters do not.
Portia converts Shylock, a Venetian citizen, into an alien, or foreigner, in order to enact this bit of the law. Portia stretches the law in order to save Antonio and punish Shylock, proving that the law protects Venice's privileged citizens and neglects its marginalized citizens. Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff.
Nerissa brings the humorous diatribe against Portia's suitors to an end by reminding Portia of her filial obligation to marry whoever passes her father's test. In this way, Shakespeare reminds the audience of Portia's problem and returns to the main action of the play. Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff. Subscribe to unlock ».
A "boldest suit of mirth" are elaborate or ornamented party clothes. Unlike the "sober habit" that Gratiano proposes he wear, Bassanio ask him to dress extravagantly, to show off their wealth. Notice how religion and imagery of money are mixed within this scene. Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff.
This is ironic because mercy is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, yet none of the Christians showed Shy lock mercy earlier in the play. Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff. Subscribe to unlock ».
See in text (Act II - Scene II) The proverb to which Launcelot refers says, "the grace of God is possession enough.". Launcelot references the Bible, but he uses it to flatter his lord instead of using it to worship God.
In Jessica's case, the money is what makes Lorenzo's labors "worth the pains.". In Portia's case, Portia is the prize that men get for their pains.
Portia infers that the Prince's mother cheated on his father with a blacksmith since this is the only explanation for the Prince's obsession with horses and shoeing horses. Portia's crude humor and wit here would make her funny and appealing to both the low and high members of Shakespeare's audience.
Antonio tells Bassanio not to grieve, to send his... (full context) But just as Shylock is about to cut into Antonio, Portia reminds Shylock that the contract doesn't grant him any drop of blood from Antonio's body:... (full context) ...decides to take Bassanio's prior offer of 9000 ducats.
Portia tells the Prince the rules of the riddle: if he chooses the casket that contains... (full context) Portia gives it to him. But when Aragon unlocks the casket, inside he finds a "portrait... (full context) In Belmont, Portia begs Bassanio to delay before making his choice among the caskets.
Meanwhile, Shylock wets his knife in anticipation of a verdict in his favor and Gratiano... (full context) The Duke reports that Bellario has recommended that the court hear the opinion of a young and learned lawyer, named... (full context) Portia tells Shylock that Venetian law is indeed on his side.
Act 1, scene 2. At her estate in Belmont, near Venice, Portia complains to her servant Nerissa that she's "aweary of this great world" (1.2.1–2). Nerissa observes... (full context) Portia replies that in fact she's frustrated by her total lack of control over her romantic... (full context)
Act 3, scene 5. Lorenzo asks Jessica what she thinks of Portia. Jessica replies that she finds Portia more perfect than she can express, and compares her... (full context) Act 4, scene 1. The Duke announces that he has asked a wise lawyer, Doctor Bellario, to come and help judge the case.
At Belmont, Portia shows the Prince of Morocco the three caskets. The first is gold and bears the... (full context) ..."what many men desire.". After hesitating a moment longer, Morocco settles on the gold casket.
Bassanio. A beautiful, clever, and wealthy noblewoman who lives in the country estate of Belmont, outside Venice. Portia is bound by a clause in her father's will, which obligates her to marry whoever solves the so-called riddle of the caskets, by choosing the correct chest from one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead.
Upon his return Bassanio introduces the women to Antonio. Portia and Nerissa quarrel with Bassanio and Gratiano respectively about their missing rings, withholding their husbands’ marital privileges until they have their rings back.
Scene 1. In Portia’s garden Lorenzo and Jessica compare themselves to famous romantic couples of myth and literature. When servants inform them of their masters’ arrivals, Lorenzo asks for music with which to greet Portia, noting its power to charm. Portia and Nerissa arrive, warning the servants not to mention their absence.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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, ...
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.
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.