We can rationally analyse if Portia is the most important and the most intelligent character in the play. There are several incidents that she displays intelligence and importance. The wittiness she displays in criticising her suitors, the marriage lottery, rescuing Antonio and the trick she plays on her husband.

She bemoans her various suitors as she `levels them to my (her) affection'. With sarcasm, she criticizes every single one because of their bad habits or lack of intelligence. She appears to be quick-witted in presenting her suitors in an original and comical way. Some might doubt whether this was considered as intelligence as she is merely criticizing them. However, her wittiness cannot be doubted.

Her father devised a marriage lottery to choose her suitors. There are three caskets, `gaudy gold', silver and `meagre lead'. It turns out that the lead casket is the correct casket. Portia does not...