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In Elizabethan times, men were seen as the more dominant and more important role whereas women were seen as the total opposite and seen as the less significant roles.
Shakespeare however created a strong, dominant significant female role; this character is Portia in ‘the merchant of Venice’.
Portia is shown as the romantic heroine of the ‘The merchant of Venice’ and is presented on stage and in words as beautiful and intelligent and this we need no convincing of due to Bassanio’s words and thus we turn to her love and effect on Bassanio.
We see from the first few scenes in the play that Portia has already given Bassanio cause to thinks it possible to ‘win’ or ‘woo’ her from her ‘Fair speechless messages’ she sent him from her eyes.
We can see very early on that Portia’s effect on Bassanio is that she has overwhelmed him with her kindness and beauty, she and him both have completely fallen under the spell of loves madness, this shows very early on how she is sometimes; although she tries to hide, is not able to control her emotions at all times which I will be explaining in full further on.
We also see from when Nerissa mentions Bassanio could possibly be one of the suitors that Portia is excited but attempts to hide her anxiety but fails feebly, this shows that Bassanio has also been sending speechless messages of his own.
Portia is also portrayed as a generous woman, when Bassanio correctly guesses the correct casket containing Portia’s counterfeit, she wishes she had more of everything to give him ‘this house, these servants and this same self are yours my lord I give them this ring’ she willingly shares all she owns with Bassanio. Portia once master of her emotions, is no unable to control her emotions, this shows that although she has a tough and controlled exterior , inside she like everyone else sometimes finds things a little bit too overwhelming, once again shown but her excitement that Bassanio may very well be...