What is the character sketch of bassanio in the merchant of. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. The merchant of venice, characters in the play folger digital texts. Here is the tale of young bassanio, who, to win the love of fair portia, entangles his dearest friend, antonio, in a dangerous bargain with the moneylender shylock. Antonio is a rich venetian merchant, bassanio s bff, shylocks archenemy, and the guy who puts up a pound of flesh as collateral so bassanio can borro. Throughout the play, bassanio behaves selfishly and seems oblivious to antonios feelings. Antonio agrees, but since he is cashpoor his ships. Bassanio is one of the major character of the play. She wishes she had more of everything to give bassanio. Antonio, a leading merchant of venice, is a wealthy, respected, and popular man.
Bassanios character is more fully drawn than antonios, but it does not possess the powerful individuality that shakespeare gives to. In order to ask for her hand in marriage, bassanio and his best friend, antonio enter into an agreement with the usurer shylock. His love for his friend bassanio prompts him to sign a contract of one pound of his flesh. Originally conceived as a bloodthirsty villain, shylock has been later understood to be a far more sympathetic character who challenges cultural stereotypes while reminding audiences to look beyond the barrier of ethnocentricity. Salanio, friend to antonio and bassanio salarino, friend to antonio and bassanio gratiano, friend to antonio and bassanio.
The duke of venice the prince of morocco, suitor to portia the prince of arragon, suitor to portia antonio. Among his many friends is a young man named bassanio, who owes antonio a good deal of money. While hamlet may be shakespeares mopiest character, antonio sure gives him a run for his money. Bassanio is an irresponsible merchant who loses all of his money when his ships do not come back from sea. Shylockportiaantonio bassanio gratianojessicalorenzonerissalauncelot gobbothe prince of moroccothe prince of arragonsalarino. As bassanio points out, hes not the only guy whod like to land the heiress. Antonio is a rich venetian merchant, bassanio s bff, shylocks archenemy, and the guy who puts up a pound of flesh as collateral so bassanio can borrow money in order to woo portia in style. The merchant of venice is a 16thcentury play written by william shakespeare in which a merchant in venice named antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a jewish moneylender, shylock. Antonio borrows money from shylock to help his friend, bassanio, court portia, but, through misfortune, is unable to repay and is subjected to an onerous default a literal pound of flesh cut from his body. Complete list of characters in william shakespeares the merchant of venice. Shakespeares characters must frequently weigh their sense of grievance against their sense. This comedy, first printed in 1609 five years prior to shakespeares death, offers many pressing issues of its day that are unfortunately still relevant today. In a 1996 made for tv movie production, paul mcgann portrayed bassanio.
Bassanio is antonios best pal and the lucky guy who lands portia, the richest and cutest girl in belmont. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the merchant of venice and what it means. Mar 30, 2020 the merchant of venice frank finlay right is shylock in a 1972 production of the merchant of venice. Shylock nurses a longstanding grudge against antonio, who has made a habit of berating shylock and other jews for their usury, the practice of loaning money at exorbitant rates of interest, and who undermines their business by offering interestfree loans. The merchant of venice is the story of antonio, the dramas title character, and his friend bassanio. Language analysis in the merchant of venice shakespeare. The theme of love and friendship in the merchant of venice. Name the list of characters in the merchant of venice 18. Bassanio is a young gentleman of venice who has squandered all his fortune and is therefore in dire need of a rich wife.
Shakespeares courtroom scene dramatizes a conflict between justice and mercythe competing claims of an angry shylock and a desperate bassanio. The central plot of the merchant of venice is relatively straightforward. Handsome, clever, pleasureloving, and pleasureseeking, but still with many noble traits, it is not until some sudden crisis occurs in his life that he discovers his own. Bassanio click the character infographic to download. Bassanio, a young venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress portia of belmont. Bassanio he is a typical elizabethan lover and nobleman who is careless with his money. Antonios love for bassanio in the merchant of venice antonio feels closer to bassanio than any other character in the merchant of venice. Bassanio needs a loan of 3000 ducats to sponsor his marriage.
He generally is one of the plays least discerning characters. The central romantic relationship of the play is that between bassanio and portia. In their form they are able to manipulate the course of action within the courtroom as well as outside it by attracting ladies attention and convincing bassanio and gratiano to give up portia and nerissas rings. Merchant of venice study guide contains a biography of william shakespeare, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Also, be sure to note that the first time, on act i, that bassanio.
Bassanio is played by jeremy brett in a 1973 tv movie of the play. Shakespeares play, the merchant of venice, has given rise to many disputes about whether one of its main characters, antonio, is possibly gay. He explains how he has been living the high life, spending money frivolously, but now wants to pay off his debts honorably. The play is called the merchant of venice and so we may well expect it to focus mostly on antonio, the venetian merchant. Bassanio in shakespeares the merchant of venice is the central instigator of all the follows and he not the most steady young man in venice. Bassanio would like to repay his friend, but so far he has been unable to do so. He is a successful businessman, owning a fleet of trade ships. The merchant of venice is a play written by the famous playwright william shakespeare. In return, antonio shall be bound to repay the loan. An influential, powerful and wealthy nobleman of venice, he is a middleaged man and a merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied. While most critics have paid particular attention to the character shylock and the themes associated with. Shylock, as a moneylender, values money for its own sake.
Hudson with an introduction by charles harold herford. Salerio and solanio provide a foil to antonio and bassanio. A short summary of william shakespeares the merchant of venice. Get an answer for how does money control the destiny of bassanio in the merchant of venice. Shakespeares the merchant of venice has been interpreted in numerous ways that range from focusing on the roles of women and marriage to examining questions of justice and mercy to exploring the appropriate relationship between christian and jews. Speeches lines for bassanio in merchant of venice total. His status as portias suitor and, later, her husband, makes bassanio the romantic hero of the play. Bassanio is an example of a type of young manhood to be found almost every day. Bassanio a gentleman of venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to antonio. The merchant of venice e shakespeare eatre of new jersey the merchant of venice. Draw a character sketch of bassanio as portrayed in the play the merchant of venice.
Bassanio thinks aloud as he chooses among the boxes, revealing his reasons for deciding on the lead box. He sees it as the means and the end of his desires, and shakespeare paints a portrait of a man obsessed with his possessions. The character of bassanio in the merchant of venice from. Contract, friendship, and love in the merchant of venice. The merchant of venice with elegant, contemporary artwork and a faithful but succinct adaptation, this graphic novel casts a classic drama in a provocative new light. Bassanio is a young gentleman of venice who has squandered all his fortune and is therefore in dire need of a rich wife a great friend of antonios, he convinces the latter to lend him the necessary money for him to properly woo portia. Portia and bassanio in william shakespeares the merchant. The merchant of venice characters bassanio bassanio is a young gentleman of venice who has squandered all his fortune and is therefore in dire need of a rich wife. A friend of antonio and bassanio, lorenzo elopes with shylocks daughter, jessica. The merchant of venice, characters in the play the folger.
However, he now feels that he may have found a way but he will again need a loan from. A great friend of antonios, he convinces the latter to lend him the necessary money for him to properly woo portia. In the end, bassanio gets everything he ever wanted. Cast of characters, the merchant of venice, lit2go edition, 1597, accessed may 03, 2020. Read shakespeares the merchant of venice, characters in the play for free from the folger shakespeare library. Bassanio is the merchant antonio s intimate friend and the wealthy heiress portia s favored suitor. Her father devises a riddle for suitors to solve in order to win. A nobleman from venice, who is a kinsman, close friend, and longtime debtor of the merchant, antonio. Antonio is a merchant who helps his friend bassanio. Bassanio s correct choice of the casket overwhelms portia. Or give your estimate of the character of bassanio in the play the merchant of venice.
Dec 26, 2017 our aim is to make the students understand the character of bassanio so that they may do better in the exam. The merchant of venice characters analysis antonia. All speeches lines for bassanio in merchant of venice. He is a character who possess both the characteristics of the protagonist and antagonists. These characters neatly solve a knotty legal problem for antonio and bassanio under the guise of male lawyers jardine, 30. In the merchant of venice, the path to marriage is hazardous. Bassanio approaches his friend antonio, a wealthy merchant of venice who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out.
Hyman, the rival lovers in the merchant of venice, shakespeare quarterly 21 1970, 10916. Shylock, portia, antonio, bassanio, gratiano, jessica, lorenzo, nerissa, launcelot gobbo, the prince of morocco, the prince of arragon, salarino, solanio, the duke of venice, old gobbo, tubal, doctor bellario, balthasar. While during its original production it would have been seen as pretty funny with a pantomime jew as a villain who gets his comeuppance in the end, it was a comedy in the classic sense of having a happy ending, rather than the more modern humourous one. This argument mirrors several smaller disputes and personal crises throughout the merchant of venice. Love, marriage and friendship in the merchant of venice.
The merchant of venice, act 1, scene 1 the folger shakespeare. A summary of themes in william shakespeares the merchant of venice. Bassanio is the merchant antonios intimate friend and the wealthy heiress portias favored suitor. The merchant of venice amazonclassics edition kindle. He is about forty years of age and has lived his life to the fullest. Once master of her emotions, she has fallen completely under the spell of loves. A young nobleman of venice, bassanio admits to living. This house, these servants and this same myself are yours, my lord. Jun 16, 2016 created using powtoon free sign up at youtube create animated videos and animated presentations for free.
Portia, the wealthy belmont heiress, is likewise a depressed and unhappy character in the. Bassanio is a fictional character in shakespeares the merchant of venice. When the play opens on the streets of venice, antonio appears onstage and tells his buddies. The merchant of venice by william shakespeare summary the play starts with the bassanio, a young, nobleman, who wishes to marry a wealthy and beautiful lady portia, the heiress of belmont. The merchant of venice is officially classed as a comedy. How does money control the destiny of bassanio in the. The merchant of venice character analysis course hero. The merchant of venice by shakespeare is the old classics selection for catching up on classics for september 2016.
Foil character role analysis salerio and solanio to antonio and bassanio. Bassanio s description of his lifestyle reveals that although he behaved carelessly and immaturely with his money, he possesses a sense of responsibility to be an honest person and he genuinely wants to find a. When the merchant of venice was written, there were not many jews. Bassanio is a friend to antonio, eventual husband to portia, and indebted to shylock. Detailed analysis of characters in william shakespeares the merchant of venice. The thing to know about bassanio is that he loves his lavish lifestyle, but hes really bad with money, which is why he ends up borrowing from shylock. Antonio, the merchant in the merchant of venice, secures a loan from shylock for his friend bassanio, who seeks to court act 1, scene 1 antonio, a venetian merchant, has invested all his wealth in trading expeditions.
The merchant of venice written by william shakespeare is a romantic comedy. First off, when one begins considering bassanio, one should dismiss all the critics who condemn him for his financial habits. He keeps borrowing money from his rich merchant friend, antonio. The merchant of venice cliffsnotes study guides book. Our first clue to this is in the first scene when, in conversation with antonio, solanio says, here comes bassanio, your most noble kinsman, gratiano, and lorenzo. He was prodigal,spending money on his lavish lifestyle, more than his source of income allows him. He is a venetian gentleman who wasted all of his money in order to be seen as a respectable man. In connection with mercy and generosity, the merchant of venice also explores love and friendship between its characters. Antonio, a merchant of venice bassanio, his friend salanio. Through this thought process and choice, bassanio shows his genuine and wise character. Solanio is a friend of antonios, who once mercantile concerns are dismissed as a cause of the mans melancholy leaps on love as the reason why. Although classified as a comedy in the first folio and sharing certain aspects with shakespeares other romantic comedies, the play is most. Merchant of venice act 1 summary and analysis gradesaver. A young nobleman of venice, bassanio admits to living beyond his means.
I think portia is my favorite character ever, not only in shakespeares plays. He explains his choice by focusing on how decoration can trick the viewer, but that he sees past appearances and relies on his instincts and intellect. Portia and bassanio in william shakespeares the merchant of venice the merchant of venice is a shakespearean play based on the themes of friendship, racial prejudice, deceptive appearances and love, of which the most romantic is the love between portia and bassanio. Gratiano antonio cannot put a finger on why, exactly, he is so sad. In the merchant of venice, is bassanio a christian or a jew.
The merchant of venice by william shakespearecharacter. John nettles played bassanio in a 1980 tv movie of the merchant of venice. The merchant of venice by william shakespeare summary. Enter the duke, the magnificoes, antonio, bassanio, gratiano, salerio, and others duke what, is antonio here. The main characters in the merchant of venice are antonio, shylock, portia, and bassanio. The merchant of venice, like so many of shakespeares plays, opens with a depressed and melancholy character. Character analysis bassanio bassanio s character is more fully drawn than antonios, but it does not possess the powerful individuality that shakespeare gives to his portraits of portia and shylock. Learn everything you need to know about shylock, antonio, and more in the merchant of venice. Antonio is a venetian merchant who spends most of his time throughout the play glued to bassanio because of a bond. Below is a list of all the merchant of venice characters, with links to more detailed info on key the merchant of venice characters duke of venice, prince of. In an aside to the audience, shylock admits that he hates antonio for numerous reasons.
He invites shylock to dine with them over the matter of a loan for this, allowing lorenzo to abduct jessica. Bassanio seems to float through life, reaping the benefits of his rich friends. Bassanio s character is more fully drawn than antonios, but it does not possess the powerful individuality that shakespeare gives to his portraits of portia and shylock. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, for the four winds blow in. Portias wealth makes her a meal ticket in the eyes of bassanio, who sees portia as the answer to all his financial woesif he can marry her that is. Homosexuality in william shakespeares the merchant of venice. Bassanio is a young gentleman of venice who has squandered all his fortune and is therefore in dire need. The merchant of venice character analysis a plus topper. The merchant of venice shakespeare theatre of new jersey. It is currently believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. In 2004, joseph fiennes played bassanio in the film titled the merchant of venice.
Examination questions on the merchant of venice question. Character list since his main source of income is from his merchant ships, he is the merchant of the plays title. Bassanio is in need of money so that he may woo portia, a wealthy heiress. The the merchant of venice characters covered include.
When the play opens on the streets of venice, antonio appears onstage and. Development of character in bassanio the merchant of venice. So, we can easily understand that the topic of love will be very important in the merchant of venice as it is a romantic comedy. On stage, it is shylock who makes the play, and almost all of the great actors of the english and continental stage have attempted the role. A list of all the characters in the merchant of venice. Bassanio asks antonio for a loan and antonio agrees to this loan, however all his money is tied up in shipping ventures. Indeed, love, marriage and friendship all of them have very important role in this drama. Bassanios love for the wealthy portia leads him to borrow money from shylock with. Gratiano graziano is a friend of antonio and bassanio. Back in venice, bassanio meets shylock, a jewish moneylender, from whom he asks for a loan of three thousand ducats for three months. Antonio is the title character in shakespeares the merchant of venice. From the jewish chronicle archiveheritageimages bassanio, a noble but penniless venetian, asks his wealthy merchant friend antonio for a loan so that bassanio can undertake a journey to woo the heiress portia. The merchant of venice is perhaps best known for its controversial depiction of shylock.
Character analysis in the merchant of venice owl eyes. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Antonio is the merchant of venice, the titular protagonist of the play. Because he wants to woo the noble portia, but cannot himself afford to do so, bassanio borrows 3000 ducats from shylock, with antonio as his guarantor. To win portia, bassanio must pass a test prescribed by her fathers will, choosing correctly among three caskets or chests. The earliest recorded performance of the play took place at the court of king james in 1605. The depression of antonio at the beginning, for which he can give no explanation, is much like antipholus of syracuse in the comedy of errors. Learn all about how the characters in the merchant of venice such as shylock and antonio contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. Jun 22, 2018 shylock is the most vivid and memorable character in the merchant of venice, and he is one of shakespeares greatest dramatic creations. Portia is a rich heiress who is both intelligent and beautiful. Get an answer for in the merchant of venice, is bassanio a christian or a jew. However, shylock has the much larger role he has almost double the number of lines and it is his insistence on the terms of the bond including a pound of flesh that creates the main drama in the play.
1126 63 763 119 1387 584 1180 1008 1293 461 556 458 848 1229 658 1050 394 1226 1368 1576 11 459 968 90 1293 156 1352 1103 320 529 447 371 1007 936 1283 954 167 666 167 623 1331 278 999