Bassanio’s Character
Ans. Bassanio is one of the major characters in the play
‘The Merchant of Venice’. He is the romantic character in this play, who has immense love for Portia, the heroine of
the play. Finally, he succeeds in marrying her.
But Bassanio’s character suffers from certain
shortcomings which show him in dim colours in the beginning of the play. He is
not at all dominating other characters. Although he marries the heroine of the
play, yet he fails to gain the stature of being called the hero of this play.
Bassanio is an extravagant type of person. He is
habitual of spending money beyond his means. He is already in debt and requests
another loan from Antonio, his close friend. This time he wants money to go to
Belmont to win Portia’s hand by taking part in the casket contest. The reader
gets the impression that he marries Portia for money. He himself tells Antonio
that he would be able to pay off all of his loans after he marries Portia, the
rich and beautiful lady of Belmont.
The readers have also another point in mind. Bassanio.
It is argued that he must have forced Antonio not to sign the dangerous bond.
But we may say that he had advised him not to sign it. But Antonio was hopeful
that his ships would return safely to Venice.
Portia thinks very high of Bassanio. This may be
because she loves him most. He must have an attractive personality. He also
proves his wisdom and balance of mind by selecting the right casket and winning
Portia’s hand for marriage. Thus Bassanio shows his deep insight into life by
understanding the words inscribed on the caskets. He is not at all attracted by
the shine of gold and silver. Rather his words in the casket scene exhibit
his wisdom and understanding of life.
Bassanio is a lovable person. Not only his friends,
but also the servants like Launcelot admire him.
Bassanio’s poetic bent of mind is also revealed to the
readers when he describes Portia’s beauty to Antonio. He tells him that Portia
is ‘fairer than that word. He also compares her to the ancient Rome’s Portia,
Brutus’ wife. He quotes Greek mythology
to praise her hair shining like gold fleece. Even after opening the lead casket,
he praises Portia’s beauty in deep romantic words.
Bassanio’s other qualities also impress the readers.
He is a handsome, polite, and lovable person. Portia expresses her excitement for
him when Nerissa reminds her of him. Her joy and excitement are shown in her
words:
‘Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think, he was so
called.’
He has control over his feelings. When Gartiano wants
to go with him to Belmont, he lets him go on the condition that he would put
control on his tongue there.
He has great
love for his friend Antonio. He had also stopped Antonio from signing the fatal
bond. But Antonio was confident that he would pay the loan on time. When
Bassanio comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he at once reaches Venice to
help his friend. He offers the Jew not only several times more money than taken
from him, but also every part of his body. He feels guilty that Antonio’s
troubles were due to him.
It is true that Bassanio has certain shortcomings but
that makes him the man of the world. But his good points overshadow his
weaknesses. Thus we may say that Bassanio's character is very much liked by the
readers.
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