Merchant of Venice : Character Analysis : Bassanio : ROUGH DRAFT

   Bassanio is Antonio's best friend and also the lucky guy who marries the richest and most beautiful girl in Belmont, Portia. "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare is a comedy about a morose Jewish moneylender (Shylock) who's hung for revenge against a Christian merchant (Antonio) who has failed to pay a loan. Throughout the play Bassanio seems very desperate for money, determined to get Portia, and very defensive of his friend, Antonio, especially if he's in trouble.

   Bassanio isn't the richest man out of his clique and is desperate for money. In Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 122-134 it states, "Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, how much i have disabled my estate, by something showing a more swelling port than my faint means would grant continuance; nor do I now make moan to he abridged from such a noble rate; but my cheif cRe is to come fairly off from the great debts wherein my time, something too progidal, hath left me gaged. To you Antonio, I owe the most in money and in love, and from your love I have a warranty to unbuthen all my plots and purposes how to get clear of all the debts I owe. Bassanio is basically asking for money because of all the debts he owes, he can't afford to be in more debt. Surprisingly, Antonio agrees to help him get more money for whatever the reason, as long as it's honorable. "According  to Act 1, Scene 3, Line 9 it states, "... three thousand ducats for three months...". Bassanio is asking a Jew for money and doesnt know that things will get dirty from here, especially since Anotonio is a Christian. Although to recieve this money (loan) from the Jew, it sounds like Bassanio's sucking up to him! "If it please you to dine with us." (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 28). Bassanio is not at all the richest, but he'll find a way to recieve money to get what he wants.

   Bassanio is in love with Portia and will do anything to receive her love. According to Act one, Scene 1, Lines 173-176 it states " O my Antonio, had I but the means to hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift, that i should questionless be fortunate". It's a good decision to use this money to go and visit Portia. Possibly win her heart as a bonus. In Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 176-186 it states, " Madaam, you have berfete me of all words, only my blood speaks to you in my veins, and there is such confusion in my powers as, after some oration fairly spoke by a beloved prince, there daoth appear among the buzzing pleased multitude, where every something, being blent together, turns to a wild nothing, save of joy, expressed and not expressed. But when this ring parts from this finger, then parts life from hence! O, then be bold to say Bassanio's dead."Bassanio is committed to Portia and will never let that ring off his finger. If so, he is dead. Bassanio's love r Portia is pure and he will make a great soul mate to please Portia.

  Bassanio will do absolutely anything to help out Antonio mostly because Antonio's done so much for him. According to Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 60-64 it states, " the dearest friend to me, the kindest man, the best-conditioned and unwearied spirit in doing courtesies; and on in whom the ancient Roman honour more appears than any that draws breath in Italy". Bassanio not only asks Antonio for favors,he looks up to Antonio as a role model. Antonio is Bassanio's only true friend. In Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 279-284, it states, " Antonio, I am married to a wife which is as dear to me as life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not with me esteemed above thy life; I would loose all, ay, sacrifice them all here to this devil, to deliver you." Bassanio loves Antonio more than his wife. Bassanio although loves his wife, yet he owes most love and money to Antonio. Bassanio and Antonio are the example of true friendship.

   In this play Bassanio shows what true friendship is, how to love, and what it feels like to works to receive what you want. Although Bassanio is not the richest, he sure is the most generous and kindest of all. 

Merchant of Venice Pre-Reading Work: Part 2

Partner: Brianne Sumida


1.)   The play opens with Antonio, the merchant, admitting that he is sad, but not knowing why.  Think of times when you’ve been sad.  Have you always understood exactly why, or has your sadness sometimes seemed strange to you?  Explain.

- There have been times where we have been sad but we haven't understood why. This brought us to some conclusions. Say if you walked pass a cemetery, you start to feel some type of way. Someone that was close to you, may have passed away and you're still feeling pretty depressed. Say if you're just casually walking through the park, and you see a ballon flying in the sky. You then have a flashback of when you were younger and you remember your favorite balloon fly away into the distance. We believe that our non-understandable sadness comes from past experience. 

2.)   In Shakespeare’s time, lending money for interest was called “usury” and was generally considered immoral.  How have attitudes changed since then?

- In Shakespeare's time, lending money for interest (aka usury) was considered immoral. Attitudes against "usury" have changed since then. As of today banks are saying that if you decide to borrow money, you have to pay so much more than the money you borrowed. Society these days are concerned about their money; they're greedy for more. Back then people call "usury" immoral, but today we consider it normal.

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3.)   Think of the recent banking crisis and the state of today’s economy.  Do you think it’s all right to lend someone a large amount of money based on their word and reputation even though they may not have any concrete evidence of being able to pay you back?

-  It's not proper to lend someone a large amount of money based on their word and reputation even though they may NOT have any concrete evidence of being able to pay you back. Not knowing what this person is going to do with your money and isn't sure of what his/her plan is,  equals a big "no no". It's your money and you should know what you're using it on and what' s even worse is that they'll be unable to pay you back. If you're lending someone a large amount of money, be sure that they will pay you back, because if they don't pay you back, and you don't do anything about it, they will use you as their personal bank machine. In conclusion, when lending large amounts of money make sure you will get payed back. 

4.)   This play includes romantic love stories and also ethnic and religious conflict.  How well do you expect these elements to blend?

- We think these elements would blend perfectly. Say there is a romantic love story about a couple and people say that they can't be together because one has different traditions and religion that they don't approve of. Or maybe there's these two people and one of them is unsure if he/she likes this person because of their ethnicity and religion. We don't think it's going to be a happy story but more like a depressing story.