Bassanio The Distasteful Husband Analysis

Lila Begovic
Mrs. Williams
ENG1DB
December 1, 2011
Bassanio: The Distasteful Husband Love is a complex topic that grows and matures from the trust, loyalty, and respect a couple share for one another. In order for two individuals to successfully remain in a loving relationship, they must be worthy of each other. The worthiness of an individual is expressed as an important theme in one of Shakespeare 's famous plays, The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio is presented as a character who is the right match for an astonishingly fair lady, Portia. However, a new opinion regarding Bassanio 's worth - contradicting with other theories - is revealed. Bassanio is not worthy of Portia, as his dishonesty, his inability to keep his word, and
his ignorance of true worth indicates. Bassanio is not truly worthy of having Portia as a wife since he is an insecure liar.
Dishonesty is one of the many factors that expose the shame people feel because of who they are. Bassanio reveals to Portia "... I told you all the wealth I had/ Ran in my veins... yet/ Rating myself at nothing, you shall see/ How much I was a braggart" (III. ii. 253-287). Not only does Bassanio confess to Portia how he lied about his fortunes and values, but he also claims that he is a braggart or boaster, which is the equivalent of saying he speaks highly of himself. Thereby proving he is in no way a worthy match to the "many Jasons [that] come in quest of [Portia]" (I. i. 172). In addition, Bassanio says to Antonio "In Belmont is a lady [so] richly left,/ ...[that] the four winds blow in from every coast/ Renowned Suitors... had I but the means...I should be question less fortunate" (I. i. 161-176). Bassanio claims that if he had the money to reach Belmont he would surely win Portia. These slightly hubristic thoughts of Bassanio 's prove that he is overly confident in the idea of winning Portia, but by only appearing as the wealthy man that he is not. Therefore, the lies Bassanio insists on telling ,to avoid being rated at nothing, demonstrate that he is unworthy of marrying and spending a life with
Portia. Other than the fact that Bassanio is a cowardly dishonest man, Bassanio lacks the ability to keep promises. To understand the worthiness of person is to recognize the exaggerated words and oaths someone says or makes. When Bassanio says to Antonio " If you... shoot another arrow that self way... I do not doubt,/ [I will] bring your latter hazard back again" ( I. i. 147-151), Bassanio is promising Antonio that there will be no risk or problems if Antonio chooses to provide financial aid for him once again. Although, this is not case, because as Bassanio discusses with Portia in Belmont "I have .../ Engag 'd my friend to his mere enemy,/ To feed my means" ( III. ii. 261-263),he reveals how he breaks an oath to Antonio by ensuring there would be no nuisances, when indeed the opposite occurs. Antonio runs into trouble with an enemy while attempting to help Bassanio out of debt. Nevertheless, Antonio is not the only one to fall victim to one of Bassanio 's faults; another would be Bassanio 's lover, Portia. Portia offers Bassanio a promise ring to represent their relationship which when "[Bassanio] parts from, lose or gives away/ [it will] presage the ruin of [his] love" (III. ii. 172-173). Bassanio responds to Portia with "...when this ring parts from [my] finger, then parts life from hence..." (III. ii. 183-185). Bassanio lies to Portia by swearing to her the ring will only leave him once he dies, and yet, Bassanio gives the ring to "... a civil doctor,/ which did refuse [taking] three thousand ducats of [his]" ( V. i. 210-211), without dying. Therefore, once again Bassanio breaks an oath, indicating he is not worthy of Portia. Bassanio is undeserving of Portia because he does not understand the importance of worth and the idea of it in general. To be worthy of Portia, Bassanio must know which items have worth or sentimental value to her. After Bassanio reveals to Portia he has given the ring away, Portia says "If you had known the virtue of the ring/ Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,/... You would not then have parted with the ring" (V. i. 199-203). Portia 's criticism confirms how Bassanio does not acknowledge the significant or meaningful effect the ring had on her, thus proving he is oblivious to what Portia holds most dear to her heart. Furthermore, Bassanio mentions to Antonio "But life itself, my wife, and all the world,/ Are not with me esteem 'd above thy life" (IV. i. 282-283). Bassanio explains to Antonio how his wife is not as important as Antonio and that he would willingly sacrifice "[Portia]/ Here to this Devil, to deliver [Antonio]" (IV. i. 284-285). Bassanio would surrender his wife without thinking about the consequences and the pain he may cause for such a sweet lady. In closing, Bassanio expresses how unaware he is of Portia 's emotions through his actions towards her, providing evidence that he is an insensitive fool and a poor husband for Portia. In conclusion, Bassanio is not fit for Portia because he does not have the capacity to speak the truth, to maintain an oath, and to understand what a women 's heart values.
Agreeing to spend a life with someone is far from easy. After all, a marriage is a union between two lovers that are separate people who will eventually form very different and controversial opinions or ideas. Therefore, when a couple is a weak match, even more extremely irritating problems will arise amongst the pair. However, should people have the strength to be honest with themselves and with the people they love, then perhaps the feelings of pain and mistrust - which both Antonio and Portia experience - could be
avoided.

Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.