Portia is a woman submissive to the attitudes of her times. She is educated beyond measure and yet is subject to the will of the males in her life. First of all, she is forced to obey the dictates of her father's will and must marry the man who guesses the right casket. Secondly, she is under the direction of her husband Bassanio, who takes charge of her estate and looks after it. It seems that the men in this play portray women as nothing better than cattle or land. Portia disguises herself as a young male judge to save her husband's best friend. She is very astute in reporting the exact words of the contract between Shylock and Antonio. Then, when Shylock wants his pound of flesh, Portia tells him that he cannot shed a drop of blood in the process or he will lose everything he has. In the end Portia manages to do just what she started out to do, save Antonio's life. During the trial, she hears her husband tell Antoino that he loves his friend more than his wife. To Portia's dismay, Bassanio gives his wedding ring in payment to the lawyer (Portia) for his fees. This is done perhaps under duress as Bassanio promised Portia that he would never part with the ring. When Bassanio comes home to find his wife blocking the front door, he knows something is wrong. She asks him where his wedding ring went and is told that it's not here. She refuses to share the same bed with him until he has the ring on his finger again. Portia finds it in her heart to forgive Bassanio and gives the ring to Antonio; he in turn gives it to his friend Bassanio.