Analysis Of Bassanio In The Merchant Of Venice

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The Merchant of the Venice, written by William Shakespeare, plays a tale of a dangerous bond for the hand in marriage of an intellectual woman in Belmont and the deadly claiming revenge of a wicked Jew. The tale of this play is based on justice, cruelty, friendship and love that are evident throughout the story. William Shakespeare displays Bassanio as a gentleman and a scholar in Venice who is portrayed to be a worthy suitor for Portia; the richest daughter in Belmont. To impress Portia, he has to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. Being able to win Portia’s hand in marriage by choosing one of the caskets containing her portrait, they shared an intimate bonding until unexpected surprises have been unfolded. She questioned…show more content…
Bassanio is not worthy to be Portia’s husband because he lied to her, he would put his friend Antonio above her and he gave up his wedding ring. Bassanio is not a worthy husband for Portia because he lied to her. During the Elizabethan Era, the poor were prohibited to marry the rich. Bassanio believed that Portia liked suitors that looked wealthy and handsome. Therefore, he uses Antonio as a guarantor to borrow 3,000 ducats from Shylock, due to his lack of money, in order to look wealthy to compete with the other suitors for Portia's hand in marriage. This leads to the many scenes in which he pretended to be wealthy in front of Portia. Later on, he ended up breaking down and confessing to Portia what his tactics and status…show more content…
The wedding ring that Portia gave him marked the symbol of marriage. Although, he was warned that if he gave up his wedding ring, then that would be the end of their marriage. Portia warned him, “Are yours – my Lord’s – I give them with this ring, / Which when you part from, lose or give away, / Let it presage the ruin of your love,” (III. ii. 172-174). The wedding ring is the most valuable ring in marriage. It should never be lost, sold or given away. As Balthazar requested for the wedding ring he was wearing, he handed to him not fearing the consequence even though he was convinced by Antonio. He believed that the wedding ring is not as valuable as Antonio’s life as he was just saved. Furthermore, he refused to tell Portia but was caught. The second quote states that, “This ring, good sir – alas, it is a trifle! / I will not shame myself to give you this. / I will have nothing else but this” (IV. i. 426-428) provides a further explanation that the wedding ring had no value to Bassanio. It also shows that he would not mind or be ashamed giving the wedding ring to the lawyer, Balthazar, disguised as Portia. Although Balthazar seems sure that he wanted to take the ring as a test, this changes Bassanio’s expression immediately as he seems unwilling to give it to him, therefore showing the reader that he did not mean what he said or criticized about the wedding ring. He was later convinced by Antonio

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