Lady Portia

Not a comic character. She’s there to remind us of the strict class structure of Ancient Rome. And the attitudes.
Authoritarian. Prevents agents boarding the vessel and searching for P as far as Corinth.

Husband

Wife of the Governor of Achaea at Corinth: Lucius Antonius Albus 128/129 CE (suffect consul in 132)
A Propraetor of the Senatorial Propraetorial Province. He was from the Senatorial Class and climbing up the Cursus Honorum.
He has a quarter of his estates in Italy, the remainder in the provinces, eg Britannia?

Character

Brought up by a home tutor – Governess. (‘my governess always used to say to me “quote”‘)
Because she is now Lady Bracknell, she has opinions on society, marriage, religion, money, illness, death, and respectability.
She discusses what everyone earns. Husbands career path. Other Career paths.

Relatives

The Importance of being Earnest (1895 Oscar Wilde)
Lady Bracknell’s authority and power are extended over every character in the play.
Her decision about the suitability of both marriages provides the conflict of the story.
Her social commentary on class structure is Wilde’s commentary about how the privileged class of England keeps its power.
Lady Bracknell firmly believes the middle and lower classes should never be taught to think or question. It would breed anarchy and the possibility that the upper class might lose its privileged position.
Her opinions and mannerisms betray a careful and calculated speaking pattern. She is able to go round for round with the other characters on witty epigrams and social repartee. Despite her current position, Lady Bracknell was not always a member of the upper class; she was a social climber bent on marrying into the aristocracy. As a former member of the lower class, she represents the righteousness of the formerly excluded. Because she is now Lady Bracknell, she has opinions on society, marriage, religion, money, illness, death, and respectability. She is another of Wilde’s inventions to present his satire on these subjects.

Here’s the list of titles that were assigned to the nobility in Roman Empire :