威尼斯商人中鲍西娅的性格分析

ChapterOneIntroductionAsthemagnumopusofShakespeare,TheMerchantofVeniceis,fromthepointofviewofthedramaandtheme,aturninShakespeare’searlycomediescreation.Shakespearewrote37playsinhislife,mostofwhicharetragedies.Ofhisfewcomedies,TheMerchantofVenicewasvoted‘‘themostsatiricalplay’’.ItplaysanimportantroleinthehistoryofWesternliteratureanddrama.Inthiswork,thewritervividlyreproducesthebroadpictureofsociallifeinfeudalsocietyandcapitalistsocietyatthattime.Ontheonehand,itreflectsthecontradictionbetweenthecommercialbourgeoisieandusuryintheearlycapitalistperiod.Shylockisarepresentativeofusurycapital,whileAntonioisarepresentativeoftheemergingbourgeoisie.Therelationshipbetweenthemisnotharmoniousforthesakeoftheirdifferentpositions.AsaJew,ShylockwasdiscriminatedagainstinChristianVenice.ButAntonio,alsoamerchant,waslovedandrespectedbymanypeopleinVenice.ShylockhatedAntoniobecausehehadborrowedmoneywithoutinterestandhadinsultedhimself.Sohetookadvantageoftheloancontracttosetatrapforrevenge.Ontheotherhand,italsoeulogizesbenevolence,friendshipandlove,whichisveryhumanistic.Itshumanism,combinedwitharefreshinglightnessanditssuccessinportrayingemotionwithempathy,drawthereadersintoadeepinvolvementwiththedrama’sappealingcharacters.Theirimagesarestrikingandhaveaprofoundimpactonthereader.PeopleisdeeplymovedbythequalityofPortiaamongthem.Althoughsheisawoman,shehasanextraordinarytenacity.Comparedwiththeothercharactersintheplay,Portiaismorecalmandrational.Portiaistheimageofanewwomancreatedbytheauthor,andallkindsofherexpressionsarealsodeeplyattractedtothereaders.Sheisstrongandoptimistic,calmanddecisive,sincereandkind,andsheisaveryattractivefemalecharacterinthedrama.Sheisalsocautious,calmlyanalyzingthesituationinthecourt,remainingthehopeofsavingAntonio.Eveninthefaceoflifedanger,shestilldoesn’tcompromiseorflinch,andfinallysavesAntonio.FacedwiththecunningShylock,sheisn’tintimidatedbyhim.Hercharacterisstillofgreatsignificancetopeopletoday.ByanalyzingthecharacterofPortia,peoplewillhaveanewunderstanding.WhetherfromhercourtdealingswithShylock,orfromherrelationshipwithherloverBassanio,peoplecanseethatPortiahasmanygloriousadvantages.Tobehonest,peoplewilllearnagreatdealofthewaysofbehavingbyanalyzingthecharacterofPortia.ChapterTwoAbouttheAuthorandHisWorksThereisnodoubtthatShakespeareisawriterwithextraordinaryachievements.Heisgoodatportrayingcomplexgroupsofcharactersinsocietyandendowingthemwithdeeperconnotations.Hehasalotofimpressivecharactersinhispen.ForthecharactersinTheMerchantofVenice,classantagonismisadifficultyintheirlives.Accordingly,italsoreflectsShakespeare’sownrichsocialexperienceinreality.Hislifeexperienceisnecessaryforpeopletobetterunderstandthework.2.1IntroductionofWilliamShakespeareWilliamShakespearewasanEnglishRenaissancedramatistandpoet.Hewasbornintheyearof1564incentralEnglandStratford-Upon-Avonaffluentcivilfamilies,andhewenttotheschoolofGrammarandLawinhishometownwhenhewasachild.HestudiedtheLatin,literatureandrhetoricinschool,whichlaidthefoundationforhislaterwriting.Afterwards,thefinancialsituationofhisfamilywasworsening,heoncehelpedhisfathergointobusiness,andmadealivingaloneinLondonaround1578.Itwassaidthathehadworkedasacoachmanorbusboywhichwasregardedasthemostinferioroccupationinthesedays.Inspiteofthis,hedidnotgiveupthesearchforhope.Hedidnotrecoverafterasetback.Facedwiththesuddenchangesinhisfamily,hedidnotbeathimselfup,butchoosingtoworkhard.In1587,hebeganhiscareerasanactorandtriedhishandatwritingplays.Thenhebecametheactorandscriptwriter,followingthetheatregroupandmakingaperformancetourfromplacetoplace.Hehadrelativelyextensivecontactwithallsectorsofsocietyduringthepresentation.Hismainachievementisdrama,andheiscalled‘‘TheSoulofAge’’bythecontemporarydramatist.2.2IntroductionofTheMerchantofVeniceTheMerchantofVeniceisacomedythatwrittenbyShakespeare.ItisanimportantworkforShakespeare’searlycomediccreationtotragiccreation.Ittellsthestorythroughthreeclues:oneisPortia’schoiceofbride;oneisJessica’selopementwithLorenzo;andtheotherwasa‘‘poundofflesh’’,contractdisputewithAntonioandShylock.AntonioisgenerousrichmerchantofVenice,andheiscontrarytoShylock’susurypolicy.HisgoodfriendBassanioaskedhimtoborrow3,000poundsbecausehewantedtoproposetoPortia,abeautifulgirlwhoinheritedafortunetoBelmont.ButAntoniohadnomoneyleftaroundhim,becausehismerchantshiphadnotreturned.Evenso,AntoniostillchosetohelphisgoodfriendBassanio.Soheborrowed3,000poundsfromShylockascollateralforhisgoods.ShylockhatedAntoniobecauseAntoniolentmoneywithoutinterest,affectedtheindustryandinsultedhimself.Sohetooktheopportunityofsigningtheloancontracttosetupatrapandwaitforrevenge.Fortunately,PortiadisguisedherselfasajudgeandsavedAntonioincourt.Theworkshowstheauthor’shumanisticthoughtonmoneylawandreligioninthecapitalistclasssociety.ChapterThreeAnAnalysisofPortia’sCharacterinTheMerchantofVeniceTherearethreefemalecharactersinthiswork.TheyareJessica,PortiaandherservantNerissa.Portiaisthemostsplendidofthemall.Shehasalmostallthegoodthingsthataperfectwomanshouldhave.Herstrongoptimism,calmdeterminationandsincerekindnessdeeplytouchedthereaders.Andherpersonalityiscloselyrelatedtotheexternalenvironment.Herfamilyenvironmentandsocialenvironmenthaveagreatinfluenceonhercharacterformation.3.1Portia’sCharactersAfterunderstandingthemaincontentoftheplay,peoplecanseethatPortiahasalotofgoodcharacter.Ontheonehand,althoughsheisanorphangirl,shedidnotlosefaithinlife.Andsheisstrongandoptimistictofacelife.Sheisstilllookingforwardtoloveandthethefuture.Ontheotherhand,nomatterinhermonologuewithBassanio,orinherrelationshipwithfriends,peoplecanclearlyseehersincerekindness.Thischaracterisundoubtedlyveryvaluable.Atthesametime,sheisalsoacalmanddecisivewoman.3.1.1FirmnessandOptimismMentioningthewordsoffirmnessandoptimism,peoplewillthinkmostlyitisaspiritthatmakethemgoaheadeveniffacingdilemma.Asaplingcanonlyexerciseanindependentheartinthewindandrain,tostandbetweenheavenandearth.Apersononlyinadversityandsufferingself-improvement,perseverance,canmakeadifference.Exactly,onPortia’sbody,thespiritislikeonintransigence-withcurrentsituation.Couragecomesnaturallytomanundersuchcircumstances.Thecourageisveryimportantforpeopletogetoutoftrouble.Portia’sstrengthandoptimismismainlyreflectedinthreeaspects.Thefirstaspectisherintransigencetowardslife.Thisintransigenceisshowedinherfather’sdeath.InPortia’sfirstsceneintheplay,herfatherhadpassedawaybutleftawillforher.ThecontentsofthewillwerethatthesuitorwhochosetherightcasketwouldmarryPortiaandinherithisestatewithher.ThefatheraskedPortiatochooseherhusbandinthreeboxes,ashehadtoldher.Shefeltlostanduneasyinthefaceofsuchunknownthings.Althoughsheisanorphangirl,shedoesnotlosefaithinlife.Sheisnotdefeatedbythemisfortune,butstillhopefulaboutlife.Shefollowsherfather’swillandwantstofindalovertolivewith.Andherfirmnessandoptimismarealsoreflectedinherunyieldingtoherownfate.Whilefulfillingherfather’swishes,shestillhasabeautifulvisionformarriage,lookingforwardtobeingtogetherwiththepersonshelikes.ThisalsopromptshertobreaktheruleswhenchoosingabridebygivingBassaniocluesabouttherightbox,helpinghimtochoosetherightleadboxcontainingherportrait.Totellthetruth,herdefianceofauthorityanddeparturefromherfather’sinstructionsareallduetoherstrengthandoptimisticcharacter,whichisalsoheruncompromisingtolifeandfate.Ontheotherhand,Portia’sfirmnessandoptimismarealsoreflectedinthispartofthecourtcase.Intheplay,Venetianlawdidnotallowwomentobejudges.Andtherewasanideologyofdiscriminationagainstwomen.EveninacityasprosperousasVenice,thiskindofthinkingdeeplyimprisonedpeople’sminds.Inthiscase,shechoosetobreakfreefromtheshacklesoffeudalthoughtsandthensaveAntonioincourtbyposingasajudge.Itcertainlytakesalotofcourage.ThisactofresistancealsoreflectsthestrongoptimismofPortiafromtheside.Insteadofgivingintoanunequalsystemandacceptingherdestiny,sheresistsworldlypressures.3.1.2CalmnessandDecisivenessThewordofcomposureanddeterminationinPortiaareembodiedmostvividly.Portia’scalmanddecisivecharacterisalsoreflectedinthisplay.Thiskindofcharacterinhernotonlyshowedakindofdecisiveability,butalsoherfirmconfidenceinherself.Portiaisjustlikethat,shefirmlybelievesinherself,nomatterhowhardShylockincourt,shewillbecalmtohandleit.Itisbecauseshehasenoughconfidenceinherselfthatshecanbecalmanddecisive,toremaincalmandrationalnomatterwhathappenstoher.Shetakesatensesituationcalmlyfacingthedilemmaanddealswithitwiththemostrationalattitude.ThefirstthingthatshowsPortia’scalmdeterminationiswhenshelearnsthatAntonioisindanger.WhenshelearnedthatAntoniowasindangerforhelpingBassanio,shedidnotpanic.Bassaniowaslostingriefandwept.ShetoldBassaniothatshewouldshareitwithhim,nomatterwhathappened.Instarkcontrasttohisstate,shequicklycameupwithasolution.ThenthedayafterherhusbandBassanioleft,PortiawenttoVenicewithhermaidservant,Nerissa.Portiadisguisesherselfasaman,notonlyforthebenefitofherfriends,butalsotopreservethedignityofthelawandexposeShylock’sdespicablebehavior.AlltheseshowsthatPortiahasanextraordinarycomposureanddeterminationcharacter.Furthermore,hercalmdeterminationisalsoshowninthecourtprocess.ItalsoshowsthatPortiahasenoughconfidenceinherself.Sheiscalmanddecisiveandfirmlychoosetherightdirectioninthefaceofanyunknownthing.Incourt,theconfrontationbetweenPortiaandShylockisverywonderful.Shylockobstinatelychosetofulfilltheircontract,insistingonrefusingBassanio’soffertodoubleortriplethemoney.SheknewimmediatelythatShylockwouldnotacceptasettlement.Thensheremainedcalmandturnedthesituationaroundwithheringenuityeveninthefaceofsuchatensesituation.Shetookadvantageoftheholeinthecontractandfoundawayout.Shylockimmediatelygotaninferiorpositionincourtduetotheviolationofthelaw.ItalsoshowsthatPortiahasenoughconfidenceinherself.Sheiscalmanddecisiveandfirmlychoosestherightdirectioninthefaceofanyunknownthing.EverytimeShylockasksforsomething,shefindsawaytodealwith,eventuallyleavingShylockattheendofhiswits.WhetheritistousethecontractagainstShylock,orlatertohelpAntonioandJessicatosharehisfortune,Portiaisverycalm,asifshehasexpectedeverything.3.1.3SincerityandKindnessPortiaisundoubtedlyawomanofsincerityandkindnessinthisdrama.Sheisanearlyperfectimageintheauthor’spen,andshehasalotofbeautifulcharacteristics,suchassincerekindness,benevolenceandsoon.Theseareallveryattractivetopeople.SincerityandkindnessinPortiaisshowninherkindnesstolife.Shehascompassionforlife,whetheritisgoodorevil.Inaddition,thereishersinceritytowardslove.Peoplecanseethegentlestsideofhersoul,whichisherloveforlife.ThemanifestationsshowsbeyonddoubtthatPortiashowsagreatsincerityinlove.FacingherloverBassanio,Portiadoesn’tshowanycontempt.Infrontofthetwoprinces,shedoesn’tshowmucheagernessbecauseoftheidentityandstatusofthesuitors.Onthecontrary,sheisveryhumblefrombeginningtoend.SeeingthatBassaniohadchosentherightcasket,Portiatoldhimthatshewasnotasperfectashethoughtshewas.SuchwasPortia’ssinceritytowardsherloverthatshewantedBassaniotoseehermerits,andwouldnotconcealhershortcomings.FacedwiththeabsentmindedBassanio,Portiaquicklyguessedthathewouldbehavesomedifficulty,andoffendtofaceitwithhimanyway.ItalsoshowedPortia’ssincerity.WhenshelearnswhathappenedtoAntonio,sheimmediatelyoffendtosavehimwithdoubleormoreofthemoneyofthecontract.EventhoughshehasnevermetAntonio,shestillhasacompassionateheartforhimandiswillingtodoeverythingshecouldwithherhusbandtohelpsavehim.ThisistrueforAntonio,thegoodandhelpfulman,whilePortiaremainskindtoShylock,whoiscunningandbadman.Moreover,whenShylockisabouttobesentencedbythejudge,sheadvisesthejudgetoshowmercytohim.ThisisherkindnesstoShylock.Inaddition,shealsoclaimsthatdividethepropertyofShylockintotwoparts,whichishermercytoJessica.ThinkingofJessicawhoelopedandranaway,sheproposedtothepresidentthatgiveJessicaandLorenzohalfofShylock’sproperty.3.2TheCausesofPortia’sCharacterAperson’scharacterisinextricablylinkedtotheenvironmentinwhichhegrowsup.Thedevelopmentofcharactercanbeinfluencedbymanyaspects,suchassocialenvironment,familyenvironment,andselfaspects.ThesameistrueofPortia,anditisonlyfromthesepointsofviewthatpeoplewanttoanalyzethecausesofhercharacter.Sheisbornintoarichfamilyandlivinginthehumanisticera.Thesearetheexternalfactorsthatformhercharacter,whiletheinfluenceofherinnerheartonhercharacteristheinternalfactors.3.2.1TheLifeinaRichFamilyInTheMerchantofVenice,Portiawasdescribedatthebeginningastheorphandaughterofawealthyfamily.Herfatherleftawillwhenhedied.ThecontentsofthewillwerethatifanyonecouldcorrectlychoosethecasketinwhichPortia’sportraitwasplaced,hewouldmarryPortiaandinherithisestate.Thiswasalsoanimportantpartoftheplay.ThefamilyprovidesafoundationforhertopursueideologicalprogressforPortia.Sheisseentobeabeautifulwomanofgreattalentandknowledge.Sheisbornintosuchawealthyfamily,whichlayingthefoundationforhertoreceiveagoodeducation.Shecanbroadenhervisionandenrichhermind.Italsopromoteshertogrowintoaprogressivewomanandgiveshertheabilitytoprotectherself.Sheisknowledgeableandfamiliarwiththelaw.Asaresult,sheisabletopretendtobeajudgetosaveAntoniowithoutbeingdetected.Atthesametime,familyreasonsalsolethimgetbetterprotection.Thefatherwasgone,butheprotectedhisdaughterPortiainhisownway.Inthewillleftbyherfather,whatappearedtobePortia’sfateisunknown.Butfromanotherpointofview,thiswayofchoosingrelativesisakindofprotectionforhim.Hebelievesthatapersonwhocouldchooseacoppercasketthroughthegorgeousappearancemustbeapersonworthyoftrust.Thepersonwhocanpicktherightboxisherdeadfather’slastprotection.Portiaisaflesh-and-bloodfemalefigure,shelongstopursueherownhappiness,butshehastoberestrainedbythewillofherfatherwhohaspassedaway.Sheisdeeplydistressedbysuchafate,buttheoathmadetoherfathermakeshersufferallthisinsilence.Astheorphandaughterofaricharistocrat,Portiaenjoysinexhaustiblewealth,butshedoesn’tcareaboutmaterialwealth,butfullofhopetofindamanwithherownheartasapartnerforlife.Thegreatestinfluenceoffamilyonhercharacteristhatshehaslearnalotofknowledge,cultivatingherconfidenceinherself,andcreatingherstrongandoptimisticcharacter.3.2.2TheInfluenceoftheHumanisticAgeInthisplay,thepeoplearelivingintheearlydaysofcapitalism.ThereisasharpcontradictionbetweenthebourgeoisbusinessmanrepresentedbyAntonioandtheusurerrepresentedbyShylock.Duringthisperiod,peoplegraduallycomeintocontactwithhumanism.ThesameistrueofPortia,wholivingintheRenaissanceandisdeeplyinfluencedbythehumanisticAge.TheinfluenceofthehumanisticageonPortia’scharactermainlyhastwoaspects.Ontheonehand,shehadtheideologyagainstviolencebecauseshelivedinthehumanisticage.WhenshelearnedthatAntoniowasgoingtobecutbyShylock,shewasdisgustedbyShylock’saction.Obviously,ShylockproposedthiscontractwastokillAntonio,andtoachievethepurposeofrevengeagainsthim.Itwasundoubtedlycruel.InPortia’sview,suchviolenceiswrongandinhuman.Therefore,shedecidestoteachShylockalesson,sothathecouldnotcarryouthisplot.Fromanotherperspective,theinfluenceofthehumanisticeraonPortiaisalsoimperceptible.Undersuchinfluence,sheformsakindandsincerecharacter.Shehasagoodheartandresentsallinjustice.Incourt,sheasksthepresidenttosentenceShylockmoreleniently.Atthesametime,shealsoobtainshalfofShylock’spropertyforJessicaandhislover.ItcanbeseenthatsheisnotonlykindtobadpeoplelikeShylock,butalsohelpsJessicawhoshehasnevermet.Shestilltreatspeoplewithkindness,whethertheyaregoodorbad.Ontheotherhand,theinfluenceofthehumanisticeramakePortiaadvocatetheconceptoffreedomandequality.Sheisnotwillingtofollowtheestablishedfateoflife,withthisunknownchoice,letherselfmarryastranger.Therefore,shechosetogiveBassaniosomehintswhenchoosingherhusband.ShetoldBassaniothatitwasraretobeabletochoosesomethingbeyonditsessence.Sureenough,Bassaniounderstoodwhatshehadsaidandchosetherightcase.ThiswasPortia’seffortinfluencedbythehumanisticera.Sheadvocatedtheideathateveryonewasequalbecauseoftheinfluenceofthehumanisticage.Inaddition,Portiadidnotshrinkfromfacingthreepowerfulprinces.Shedidnotadmirethedignitariesandregardedtheprincesasthesameastheordinarypeople.Shehasherownopinion,andindependent,completelyunliketheordinaryrichdaughterhavingstaleideasandold-fashionedthoughts,thesearethehumanisticeraofhercharacter.ComparedwithagroupofhumanisticnewwomendescribedbyShakespeare,Portiaisn’taspersistentandboldasJuliet,DesdemonaandHermiainthepursuitofmarriagefreedom,butshebreakthroughthenarrowworldoflove,breakingthroughthefeudalbarriersofmalesuperiorityandfemaleinferiority,anddaringtofightfacetofacewiththeevilforcesofsociety,sothathumanityovercomeevil.Inthisrespect,sheisheadandshouldersabovetheotherwomen.Thissuggeststhatthenewlyawakenedwomencanplayasignificantroleinsociallife.ThehumanisticerahasaprofoundinfluenceonPortia,whichendowsherwithkindnessandbenevolence,thuscreatinghersincereandkindcharacter.3.2.3TheHeartthatYearnsforFreedomPortia’sdramaticperformancereflectsherlongingforfreedom.Thisisoneofthemainbutsubjectivemotivationsofhercharacter.Inthisdramasheisanintelligentandindependentnewwomanwhowantstobefree.Sheisconscriptedtochooseherfuturehusbandbymeansofthreecoffins,followingherfather’steachingsaboutthedead.Thismayseemtrivial,butPortiaisshackledbyit.Shelongsevenmoreforfreedombecauseofherinabilitytobreakfreeandherhelplessness.Indeed,asshewaitstochooseherhusband,sheisbothhesitantandhopeful.Sheyearnsforsomeonetopullheroutofthisgloomyday.Inthiscontradiction,Portiachoosesfreedom.Shefinallychangesherfatebybreakingtheshacklesofherfather’swill.Ontheotherhand,herinneryearningforfreedomalsodrivesheroutofgenderdiscriminationandgivesherenoughcouragetofacelife.Shedisguisesherselfasamanandpretendstobeajudgeincourt.Thispracticealsoshowsthatsheisnotwillingtoliveastheworldthought,becausesheisnotboundbythesocietyatthattime,butlearnsalotofknowledge.Evenincourt,shecanbeatShylockwithwisdom,andeventuallygrowuptobeawiseandsincerewoman.Thissocialtrendofdiscriminationagainstwomendoesn’tdrownherheart,butmakeherchangeforthebetter.AnditalsomadePortia’sdesireforfreedommoreurgent.Portia’sheartwasextremelytormentedwhenshefollowedherfather’swilltochooseherhusbandinthreeboxes.Becauseshedidknowwhatherfutureholds,shewasconfusedandinsecure.Shewasnotwarmtothesuitorswhocametochooseabride.Onthecontrary,shewasverytiredofthem,andfeltthattherewasagreatdealineachofthemthatshedidnotlike.Inaway,thisreflectedPortia’sdisdainforthissortofarrangedmarriage.Deepdownthisdisdainwasalsoherinnerresistancetofeudalideas.WhenPortiasawthatherloverhadcometotheBelmont,sheknewitwasheronlychance.Inabriefmomentofconfusion,shechosetogiveBassaniosomehints.Thiswasherstruggleforfreedom.Infact,peopleyearnforfreedom,butsometimes,theywillbehamperedbyonereasonoranotherandstoptheirpace.Butthereisnodenyingthatfreedomistopeoplewhatwateristofish.Portiawasjustlikethis.Theyearningforfreedomstimulatedherinnerworldandgaveherthecouragetofightwiththerealityandfinallygotherownhappiness.ChapterFourTheInspirationofPortia’sCharactertoReadersInTheMerchantofVenice,therearemanysuccessfulcharacters,suchasAntoniowhoisreadytohelpothers,Jessicawhoisbraveenoughtopursuelove,andShylockwhoiscunningenoughtolovemoney.AndtheheroinePortiaisalsoadeeplyrootedfigure.Thisisnotonlybecauseofhowbeautifulsheis,butalsobecauseofheruniquepersonalitycharm.Hercharactercangivepeoplealotofinspiration.Althoughpeoplelivedindifferenttimesfromher,shecanstillgiveusexperience.4.1CultivatingaPositiveAttitudetowardsLifeTherewillbemanyupsanddownsinlife.Theymayholdpeopleback.Butthereisnodenyingthattheycanalsobenefitpeoplealot.Buttobehonest,thepeoplewhoencounteredtheobstaclesatthattimedidnotthinkofthebenefitstheywouldbringtothem,onlythattheobstaclesweretoodifficulttoovercome.Somepeopleevenlosetheircouragebecauseoftemporarydifficulties.Thisiswhentheybecomenegativeandgiveuponthemselves.Onthecontrary,therewillbethosewhochoosetofacethesedifficultiespositively.Thisisbecausetheyhaveapositiveattitudetowardslife.Portia’sinspirationtopeopleisthatpeopleshouldcultivatetheirownpositiveattitudetowardslife.Peopleshouldtrytolookattheupsanddownsoflifefromavarietyofdifferentangles.Infact,thereasonwhymanypeoplearestuckwithobstaclesisbecausetheyseesomethingorobstaclesfromauniqueperspective.Theysimplyevaluatetheproblemintermsofitsconsequences.Learningtoseetheselifesetbacksinadynamiclightcanmakeadifference.Inanotherway,thesesetbacksarenotnecessarilybadforpeople.WhentheAngleofviewofaproblemchanges,themoodofanaturalpersonalsochanges.Portia’sreactionwhenshelearnedofAntonio’sdistressshowedthis.Insteadoflosinghercomposurelikeeveryoneelse,includingBassanio,shethoughtofposingasajudgetosavepeople.Thisshowsthatsheisnotlimitedtotheconventionalviewoftheproblem,naturallywillnotbeknockeddownbyfrustrations.Inourlife,therewillalwaysbemanysetbacksandhardships.Justastheaboveancientpoemexpresses,whenpeopleareintrouble,don’tstayflatafterafall,butgodownmaymeetthelight.Portiaisn’tprostratedbyherfather’sdeath,onthecontrary,shemaintainsapositiveandoptimisticattitudetowardslife.Therefore,andpeopleshouldalsocultivatetheirownpositiveandoptimisticattitudetowardslife,anddonotloseconfidencebecauseofthestagnationofthetime.Thisremindsthemthatnomatterwhatkindofsetbackstheymeet,peopleshouldhaveapositiveandoptimisticattitude.4.2CultivatingthePsychologicalQualityofBeingFearlessintheFaceofDangerWhenconfrontedwitharelativelysuddensituation,peoplewillmoreorlesspanic.Becausetheseunexpectedsituationsarenotexpectedinadvance,manypeoplewilllosetheircoolinthefaceofsuchsituations.Thisalsotellspeoplethatonlybyimprovingtheirpsychologicalquality,cantheydonotchaosinacrisis.Portia’sperformanceshowsthatpeoplecanexercisethemselvesbyexposingthemselvestonewthings.Ifonecanexperiencemorethings,hecanbroadenhisknowledge.Thiswillallowpeopletoimprovetheirpsychologicalqualityimperceptibly.InthebattleofwitsbetweenPortiaandShylock,peopleseehowimportantgoodpsychologicalqualityistopeople.ItisbecauseofherstrongpsychologicalqualitythatshecansuccessfullydealwiththecunningShylock.PeoplearedeeplyattractedbythecomposureanddecisivemannerofPortiaintheplay.ItwasbecauseofhercharacterthatAntoniowasrescued.Basssaniobrokedownwhenhereceivedaletterfromhisfriend,butshewasabletojudgecalmlyandrationally.Moreover,peoplealsoneedthismentalqualitytobefearlessinthefaceofdanger,whichwillmakeusstrongenoughtoovercomedifficultiesintheend.4.3CultivatingaSincereAttitudetowardsOthersByanalyzingPortia’scharacter,Peoplecanclearlyseehersinceritytowardsothers.Shedissectedherselfinfrontofherlover,lettingBassanioseehershortcomingsandadvantages,unwillingtohavetheslightestconcealmentofherlover.Shechosetoconfesseverythingtoherloveraftertheselection.Thisapproachisnotonlytobyfrankwithothers,butalsotobehonestwithherownheart.Asthesayinggoes,‘‘Wheresincerityisconcerned,goldandstonewillopen.’’Enoughsinceritycanopenhardthingslikegoldandstone.Similarly,itisessentialforpeopletotrea