A Merchant of Venice essay comparing the different sides of Portia.

A Two-Faced "Lady Richly Left" (1.1.161). In the play The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare reveals Portia's character in a variety of different ways. She seems to have multiple personalities, and it is very difficult for one to conclude whether she is kind or cruel. For example, she could be said to be prejudiced and sly, while also very caring. Portia is quick to judge others on appearances and first impressions. In scene II, when Portia is …

…likes. She can very well be described as two-faced: on the one hand she is sly, prejudiced and lacking in trust of her husband, yet on the other hand she is a kind and loving woman. It is this complex personality that makes her such an interesting character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio may want to get to know all of her sides before committing himself to a woman whom he barely knows.