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Portia
A nobleman from Venice, who is a kinsman, close friend, and longtime debtor of the merchant, Antonio. 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. His status as Portia's suitor and, later, her husband, makes Bassanio the romantic hero of the play. However, his character is deeply flawed. At best clueless, and at worst consciously selfish and manipulative, he always manages to avoid earning his own way: first, he exploits the generosity of his friend Antonio, and then he freely passes on the money and gifts that Portia gives him.
Bassanio Quotes in The Merchant of Venice
The The Merchant of Venice quotes below are all either spoken by Bassanio or refer to Bassanio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 1
Quotes
In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,
I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight
The selfsame way, with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.
I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight
The selfsame way, with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.
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Act 1, scene 2
Quotes
I dote on his very absence.
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Act 1, scene 3
Quotes
I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.
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Act 3, scene 2
Quotes
If he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music.
Fading in music.
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There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue in his outward parts.
Some mark of virtue in his outward parts.
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Bassanio Quotes in The Merchant of Venice
The The Merchant of Venice quotes below are all either spoken by Bassanio or refer to Bassanio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 1
Quotes
In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,
I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight
The selfsame way, with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.
I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight
The selfsame way, with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, scene 2
Quotes
I dote on his very absence.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, scene 3
Quotes
I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.
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Act 3, scene 2
Quotes
If he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music.
Fading in music.
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Explanation and Analysis:
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue in his outward parts.
Some mark of virtue in his outward parts.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
