Why is portia seen as a perfect heroine in merchant of Venice?

Answer 1

Portia is clearly the heroine of The Merchant of Venice, since she takes action which foils Shylock's plan and saves Antonio's life, while being at the same time the object of Bassanio's adoration. But she is far from perfect: her comments about her suitors are mean and petty and occasionally racist. She does not content herself with foiling Shylock's plan; she has to destroy Shylock's life into the bargain. Her cruelty towards him goes far beyond what justice would require (he loses the money he loaned to Antonio because he insisted upon the unenforceable bond), far from showing him the mercy which she hypocritically praises then fails to practise. She intentionally pressures Bassanio into giving up his wedding ring and then criticises him for doing so, another example of her hypocrisy.