The Sly Side of Portia In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare presents the theme; looks can be deceiving. This is seen in the character of Portia. She portrays herself as a pleasant person when it comes to Bassanio, but is deceitful and mean when it comes to her suitors. She also disguises herself as Balthazar, a young doctor who is to judge in the courtroom of Shylock and Antonio. Once again, we see her cunning ways towards the end of the play when she taunts Bassanio about the ring that she had given him earlier because it is missing. Portias' shrewd and dishonest ways show how looks can be deceiving. Portia is left without a suitor at the death of her father