As Luke Skywalker says, "She's rich." Or as Bassanio puts it, "In Belmont is a lady richly left." The key issue is, she's got money.
She displays loyalty to the memory of her father. She is very loyal to her husband Bassanio and scolds him for not having such undivided loyalty toward her.
Clearly Shakespeare thought that Antonio was a more important character than Shylock. Or Bassanio and Portia for that matter.
Portia's father
These are words spoken by Portia in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, Act 4 Scene 1
Nerissa
Oh yes. She gives Antonio a new ring for Bassanio, saying, "Give him this, and bid him keep it better than the other." It's the same ring, of course, but Portia has already said that all is forgiven. Indeed the ring game was a way to ensure Bassanio's obedience, a sort of Taming of the Shrew in reverse. Portia never intended to part with Bassanio.
She displays loyalty to the memory of her father. She is very loyal to her husband Bassanio and scolds him for not having such undivided loyalty toward her.
The conflict is between Antonio and Shylock but Shylock is hated by everyone in Venice because he was a Jew, so that's Bassanio, Portia and all the other people in the play
Bassanio married Portia. Gratiano married Nerissa. Lorenzo married Jessica.
Clearly Shakespeare thought that Antonio was a more important character than Shylock. Or Bassanio and Portia for that matter.
Portia.
Portia
The cast of The Merchant of Venice - 1914 includes: Douglas Gerrard as Bassanio Rupert Julian as Antonio Jeanie Macpherson as Nerissa Edna Maison as Jessica Phillips Smalley as Shylock Lois Weber as Portia
Neither. She was from Belmont.
The cast of The Merchant of Venice - 1961 includes: Annette Andre as Jessica Barry Creyton Ron Graham as Bassanio Tanya Halesworth as Portia Leonard Teale John Unicomb as Antonio Owen Weingott as Shylock
Portia's father
Not really, because the subplot about Shylock is rather sad. Shylock does not die, but he is horribly mistreated and forced to change his religion on pain of death. Over the years, the tragic subplot of Shylock has come to overshadow the comic plot of Bassanio and Portia. If an actor wants to star in The Merchant of Venice, the part he wants to play is Shylock, not Bassanio.