Why did Portia disguise herself as a lawyer?
Portia dressed herself up as a lawyer so she could help Antonio in court. She did not want him to know who she was as that might influence the choices he might make.
Portia arrived in Venice disguised as a lawyer to speak in Antonio's defence and win the case. Was this answer helpful?
Portia appears, disguised as Balthazar. He (she) speaks about mercy and tries to persuade Shylock to drop the case but he refuses. Balthazar (Portia) examines the contract and declares that it is legal.
Portia understands that in order to help her husband's friend Antonio, she must dress like a man in order to escape the strict limitations placed on women at the time (Belsey 639).
Summary: Act IV, scene i, lines 164–396. Portia enters, disguised as Balthasar.
Later in the play, she disguises herself as a man and then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice (named Balthazar) whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court.
What does Portia (disguised as a lawyer) want as a "remembrance" for her legal services? A ring.
She plans to disguise as Bellario the lawyer and Nerissa will be dressed as a clerk. She bets that when they are dressed as men, she'll be the prettier of the two. Portia describes how bravely she'll wear her dagger and brag of manly conquests so that she'll be taken for a boy barely one year out of school.
Portia disguises herself as a male then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court. She also disguises herself as Balthazar, a young doctor of law. And Nerissa became Stephano which is Nerissa disguised as 'Balthazar's law clerk.
In the court in Venice, Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The Duke, presiding over the court, seeks legal advice from the lawyer "Balthazar," who is Portia in disguise.
Why did Nerissa disguise herself?
Nerissa disguises as Balthazar's law clerk to help free Antonio of his debt. While in Venice, Nerissa, still disguised as Stephano, tricks Gratiano into giving her his ring, which he promised he would never part ways with, as payment for freeing Antonio.
She plans to disguise as Bellario the lawyer and Nerissa will be dressed as a clerk. She bets that when they are dressed as men, she'll be the prettier of the two. Portia describes how bravely she'll wear her dagger and brag of manly conquests so that she'll be taken for a boy barely one year out of school.
Shylock demands justice (Act 4 Scene 1)
The Duke has sent for Bellario, a legal expert from Padua, but learns from a letter that he is ill so has sent a young man, Balthasar, in his place. Portia, disguised as Balthasar, enters the courtroom accompanied by her clerk (Nerissa in disguise).
Portia disguises herself as a male then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court. She also disguises herself as Balthazar, a young doctor of law. And Nerissa became Stephano which is Nerissa disguised as 'Balthazar's law clerk.
In the court in Venice, Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The Duke, presiding over the court, seeks legal advice from the lawyer "Balthazar," who is Portia in disguise.
