Bassanio and Portia in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

751 Words2 Pages

Bassanio and Portia in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice When we first meet Bassanio he is with his good friend Antonio asking for money. We learn that Antonio has previously lent money to Bassanio and he has wasted it by living beyond his means. Bassanio tells Antonio; ‘and by adventuring both I oft found both,’ meaning that if Antonio lends him the money he will use it to make his fortune and pay off both his debts. Perhaps to some degree Bassanio is using Antonio for his money; it seems unreasonable to ask for more before he has paid his previous debt. He wants to use the money to woo Portia, who he says he has fallen in love with. However, he mentions her money before her beauty ‘In Belmont is a lady richly left, And she is fair,’ and describes her using references to wealth; ‘Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,’ making us suspect that his motive for wishing to marry her is not love. When Bassanio sets sail for Belmont, he is giving up an expensive party very easily, this may mean that he does actually care about Portia, or simply that he wants to get there before someone else chooses the correct casket. Antonio is very sorry to see him go, Bassanio and he have a close relationship; ‘And with affection wondrous sensible He wrung Bassanio’s hand, and so they parted.’ Perhaps Bassanio is being selfish by leaving Venice so abruptly. In Belmont, we learn much about Portia through how she describes her suitors. She makes racist remarks about Morocco saying he has the ‘complexion of a devil,’ however, in Shakespeare’s time this was an acceptable form of humour as Elizabethans hated dark skin. She is cruel but shows that she possesses both intelligence and wit. Bassanio is the man she wants to marry, but she tries to play down her interest in him after giving herself away to Nerissa; ‘Yes, yes, it was Bassanio!--- as I think so was he called.’ When speaking to Bassanio she is much less assured.

Open Document