To know if Portia is a Renaissance woman, we must first define the term Renaissance. As the term "Renaissance" suggests, the renaissance was a time of rebirth or revival. It happened during the 14th to the 16th centaury, and it marked the transition from the medieval to the modern times. There was new interest in the areas of ancient classics and new forms of art, music and designs. It was a time where people did not believe everything told to them but tried to prove it.

A Renaissance woman is a female living in the Elizabethan period has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences. They were also expected to be well versed in many languages and to be independent. During her time, women did not marry for love. Instead, they married men who could ensure their safety and could...