My favorite Character So Far

         There are several very interesting characters that we are introduced to in Act 1 of The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare. Some of them include Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, Nerissa, Shylock, and several others. So far, the most interesting character to me, it Portia. One of the main things that interests me about her, is how outspoken she is. Even if it is just to her maid, the amount of scornful remarks she makes surprises me, because I would not have expected women to be that outspoken in Shakespeare's time. So far, she is also, in my opinion, the most clever and witty character so far, which makes her more interesting to me. I like how Shakespeare has written her, not just as the prize of her father's contest, but as a adept young women who has her own ideas about who to marry, and will do whatever she can to keep herself from having to marry any of the "vilely" suitors she talks about.