Character Profiles- Bassanio Flashcards
Explain how Bassanio is well liked
.Bassanio is Antonio’s closest friends- Solanio says that Antonio “only loves the world for him”
.Bassanio’s cheerful and courteous nature makes him a very likeable character, particularly in the eyes of Portia and Nerissa as they both remember him fondly from a visit made in belmont in the past
. He is also a risk-taker, meaning he’s perfectly suited for the test of the caskets. He’s the only suitor who’s willing to “hazard all he hath” to win Portia, which is why he picks the lead casket.
Explain how Bassanio is extremely loyal
.Bassanio is uncomfortable with the terms of Shylock’s loan as he tells Antonio that “you shall not seal to such a bond for me”. He wants his money to woo Portia but he cares more about Antonio’s wellbeing
.He rushes back to Venice as soon as he hears that Antonio is in trouble and even offers to sacrifice himself in Antonio’s place- “The Jew shall have my flesh,blood,bones and all”
.Bassanio is also loyal to his wife. He’s initially reluctant to part with Portia’s ring saying that he would rather give away the “dearest thing in Venice”. He does eventually give in but only under peer pressure from Antonio. He has to choose between his friendship with Antonio and his marriage to Portia. Upon giving his ring away, it appears as if Bassanio is prioritising Antonio over Portia, which creates conflict in the final scene
How can Bassanio be reckless and selfish?
.Bassanio isn’t perfect. He’s unable to support himself financially due to his careless spending in the past
.He takes advantage of Antonio’s generosity by asking for money when he’s already in his debt. He knows borrowing money is a risk for Antonio, “Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea”, but asks anyway
.Bassanio’s motivations for marrying Portia aren’t all romantic. He certainly loves Portia, but he’s also conscious of how “richly left” she is and sees marrying her as a chance to make his fortune
Explain Bassanio’s relevance in The Merchant Of Venice
Bassanio is a friend to Antonio, eventual husband to Portia and indebted to Shylock. He generally is
one of the play’s least discerning characters. Interestingly, he is not particularly on the outside of anything, but does get to live in the happy oblivion of one who has decided the world should go right for him. It’s the play’s more unhappy characters, Antonio, Portia, and Shylock, who have to come bat for Antonio’s sake. Antonio is willing to give up his life for Bassanio’s debt; Portia is willing to pay it off and subordinate herself to Bassanio, and even Shylock gets involved inadvertently by being the supplier who enables Bassanio to woo Portia in the first place.
If all of the play’s characters labor under some harsh limitations of reality and their circumstances, Bassanio provides an unwittingly happy-go-lucky foil to them. Interestingly, Bassanio is all about appearances. He lives beyond his means, is willing to continue to do that to grab Portia, and even warns Gratiano that he can come to Belmont only on the condition that he keep up appearances. As Bassanio is so good at putting on a happy face, it’s no surprise that other characters come to see what they want to see in him. He’ll neither deny it nor try to live up to it, but he seems rather to float through life, reaping the benefits of what other’s illusions about him
How does Shylock use Bassanio?
For Shylock, Bassanio is a non-issue; he’s simply the guy he can use to get at Antonio. Bassanio seems to sense this and reveals as much when he tells Antonio that he’d rather not have him sign the bond, but still he doesn’t protest. Instead he lets Antonio do what it seems Antonio wants to do which is of course for Bassanio’s sake.
Explain Bassanio’s relationship with Antonio
Bassanio seems not to understand the depth of Antonio’s love for him. He is constantly trying to explain himself to Antonio, though the merchant insists over and over that such explanations are not necessary and doesn’t matter to him. With Portia, Bassanio tries to prove himself worthy by labouring over the casket choice, but she loved him in spite of this before the chest contest ever went down. We aren’t sure why, except that she explicitly said she remembers he was worthy of praise
Summarise Bassanio’s character
Bassanio is therefore not an incredibly complex character his worth is not internal but is rather about representing some means to happiness for all of the other people in his life, people who have not been as lucky as he. In the end, all roads lead towards Bassanio’s happiness, his friend Antonio is saved, his wife Portia has shown that she can trick him but still forgives and loves him and Shylock is brought out of his life without another thought of Bassanio’s foolishness
Like many young men in Shakespearian comedy, Bassanio has matured through tests he has faced to do with his love for Portia and Antonio. In finally passing those tests or accepting his errors, he values both loves, but matures into an equal partnership with Portia rather than reliance on an indulgent older friend
