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Portia (The Merchant of Venice)

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204: 268: 221:, critic Sharon Hamilton categorizes Portia as one of Shakespeare's women who act instead of their (absent) father. Additionally, rather than being subdued by her society's restrictive feminine model, she is "confident, witty, and resourceful." Susan Oldrieve notes that while Portia rebels against patriarchal control, she eventually relents, "partly out of trust and duty, and partly because she finds that it ultimately works to her advantage." 130: 53: 1038: 255:"), while at the same time intricately linked to moral issues as it possesses the potential to obfuscate distinctions between right and wrong. For example, the abuse of rhetoric skills is brought to light by Portia – highlighting the idea that an unjust argument may win through eloquence, loopholes and 224:
Critics disagree about the extent of help Portia gives Bassanio in her test, the choosing of the caskets. In 1876, the critic J. Weiss was the first to assert that Portia assists Bassanio. More recent critics that take this view are S. F. Johnson, in "How Many Ways Portia Informs Bassanio's Choice,"
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In Shakespeare's play, Portia is a wealthy heiress in Belmont. She is bound by a lottery outlined in her father's will, which allows potential suitors to choose one of three caskets made of gold, silver, and lead, respectively. If they choose the correct casket containing Portia's portrait and a
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all played Portia in the 18th century when actresses first started appearing on stage in performances of the play. More recently, the role has been depicted in the cinema, on television, and in theatres by a number of notable actresses such as
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Despite her lack of formal legal training, Portia wins her case by referring to the exact language of the law. The tactics she uses are, in modern terms, referred to as a "
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scroll, they win her hand in marriage. Portia is glad when two suitors, one driven by greed and another by vanity, fail to choose correctly. She favors
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Later in the play, she disguises herself as a man and then assumes the role of a lawyer, Balthazar, whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend
1042: 251:. As a vital concept of civic life during the Elizabethan era, rhetoric often indicates an individual's wit (in a way, similar to the modern term " 353: 363:
was originally known as the Portia Law School when it was established in 1908 as a women-only law school and was known by that name until 1969.
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in court. In the court scene, Portia finds a technicality in the bond, as it does not allow for the removal of blood, thereby outwitting the
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In the end, Portia and Bassanio go on to live together along with the former's lady-in-waiting, Nerissa, and her husband, Gratiano.
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Hicks, Philip (April 2005). "Portia and Marcia: Female Political Identity and the Historical Imagination, 1770–1800".
233:: The Gentle Bond" (1967) and Corinne S. Abate in "Nerissa Teaches Me What to Believe: Portia's Wifely Empowerment in 1052: 442: 360: 943: 203: 856:(2001). "Comprehensive Photometry of the Rings and 16 Satellites of Uranus with the Hubble Space Telescope". 551: 948: 95: 382:, the celebrated Victorian litigant and amateur soprano, was referred to as the "Portia of the Law Courts". 1093: 86: 1247: 1057: 910: 755: 751: 368: 137: 1346: 871: 259:, regardless of the moral question at hand – and thus provoking the audience to consider that issue. 171:
demanded when everyone else, including the Duke presiding as judge, fails. It is Portia who delivers
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However, such tactics also lead to further discussions about the use and abuse of
402:, adopted the name Portia to reinvent herself after becoming a model and actress. 376:
has Rumpole call Phyllida Erskine-Brown (née Trant) the "Portia of our Chambers".
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The character of Portia has had a considerable and long-lived cultural impact.
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Bloom's Literature: The Facts on File Companion to Shakespeare, Third Edition
528: 588: 410: 318: 252: 94:. In creating her character, Shakespeare drew from the historical figure of 1013: 883: 1037: 1118: 341: 248: 145: 1108: 845: 603: 164: 160: 110: 934: 613: 536: 504: 229:," both in 1996. Opposing this view is Robert Hapgood in "Portia and 389: 149: 975:'What May Words Say ... ?': A Reading of The Merchant of Venice 821: 225:
and Michael Zuckert in "The New Medea: On Portia's Comic Triumph in
918: 520: 266: 202: 128: 117:. It has been suggested that the character of Portia was based on 103: 1061: 750:(2011). "The Merchant of Venice". In Drakakis, John (ed.). 392:, one of several such named after Shakespearean characters. 814:
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
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Martin, John (2004). "Weldon , Georgina (1837–1914)".
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History of Intelligence and 'Intellectual Disability'
909:(1, A Symposium Issue on "The Merchant of Venice"). 1324: 1273: 1229: 1169: 1137: 1101: 899:Kornstein, Daniel J. (1993). "Fie upon Your Law!". 65: 37: 505:"Marginalized Voices in "The Merchant of Venice"" 648: 190:It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 181: 1073: 8: 992:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 1080: 1066: 1058: 708: 684: 188:Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: 186:It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 51: 660: 419:, the history and usage of the given name 465: 453: 989:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 428: 1384:Fictional Italian people in literature 1374:Literary characters introduced in 1590 790: 779: 672: 602:Crane, William G. (31 December 1937). 482:. Jefferson (N.C.) London: McFarland. 34: 902:Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature 636: 509:Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature 398:(born Amanda Lee Rogers), married to 184:The quality of mercy is not strained. 7: 979:Fairleigh Dickinson University Press 696: 344:"Portia" in letters to her husband, 605:Wit and Rhetoric in the Renaissance 167:and saving Antonio from giving the 27:Character in The Merchant of Venice 102:— as well as several parts of the 25: 725:Delistraty, Cody (30 July 2014). 1036: 960:from the original on 26 May 2015 942:Kort, Michele (29 August 2005). 352:. John signed his letters with " 57:Kate Dolan as Portia (1886), by 1379:Female Shakespearean characters 1043:Portia (The Merchant of Venice) 173:one of the most famous speeches 805:The William and Mary Quarterly 764:10.5040/9781408160398.00000006 573:. Taylor & Francis Group. 350:president of the United States 1: 1333:All that glitters is not gold 868:American Astronomical Society 608:. Columbia University Press. 1314:The Maori Merchant of Venice 1006:UK public library membership 727:"Who Wins in the Name Game?" 148:, a young but impoverished 1400: 1053:Folger Shakespeare Library 1049:All lines spoken by Portia 550:Rosenblum, Joseph (2022). 443:Folger Shakespeare Library 409:, which states women with 944:"Portia heart & soul" 478:Hamilton, Sharon (2003). 361:New England School of Law 50: 42: 503:Oldrieve, Susan (1993). 973:Leimberg, Inge (2011). 480:Shakespeare's daughters 219:Shakespeare's Daughters 1369:The Merchant of Venice 1254:The Merchant of Venice 1094:The Merchant of Venice 998:10.1093/ref:odnb/53148 884:10.1006/icar.2001.6596 437:The Merchant of Venice 278: 235:The Merchant of Venice 231:The Merchant of Venice 227:The Merchant of Venice 214: 193: 177:The Merchant of Venice 140: 87:The Merchant of Venice 44:The Merchant of Venice 1248:Le marchand de Venise 911:Cardozo School of Law 756:Bloomsbury Publishing 752:The Arden Shakespeare 569:C. F. Goodey (2016). 270: 206: 132: 1347:The quality of mercy 1045:at Wikimedia Commons 1014:"Law School History" 748:Shakespeare, William 424:Notes and references 59:John Everett Millais 18:Portia (Shakespeare) 1089:William Shakespeare 876:2001Icar..151...51K 649:New England Law n.d 639:, pp. 275–276. 456:, pp. 163–164. 417:Portia (given name) 329:Cultural references 242:Philadelphia lawyer 92:William Shakespeare 70:William Shakespeare 32:Fictional character 1236:Incidental music: 290:Elizabeth Whitlock 279: 272:Portia and Shylock 215: 141: 109:Portia is fond of 98:— the daughter of 1356: 1355: 1340:Between you and I 1282:Serenade to Music 1041:Media related to 1016:. New England Law 1004:(Subscription or 854:Karkoschka, Erich 789:Missing or empty 623:978-0-231-89968-0 614:10.7312/cran94640 580:978-1-315-56483-8 489:978-0-7864-1567-0 407:Portia Hypothesis 212:Alexandre Cabanel 75: 74: 16:(Redirected from 1391: 1160:The Jew of Malta 1082: 1075: 1068: 1059: 1040: 1025: 1023: 1021: 1009: 1001: 982: 969: 967: 965: 938: 895: 849: 808:. 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Index

Portia (Shakespeare)

John Everett Millais
William Shakespeare
protagonist
The Merchant of Venice
William Shakespeare
Porcia
Cato the Younger
Bible
proverbs
Elizabethan era
Queen Elizabeth

Henry Woods
Bassanio
Venetian
Antonio
Jewish
Shylock
pound of flesh
one of the most famous speeches

Alexandre Cabanel
Philadelphia lawyer
rhetoric
Intellect
technicalities

Thomas Sully

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