BASSANIO
If it please you to dine with us.
SHYLOCK
Yes, to smell pork! To eat of the habitation
which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the
devil into! 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. (1.3.132-138)
Here we receive a lesson in how <em>not</em> to turn down a multi-faith dinner invitation. Shylock reveals here that he can be just as bigoted as Antonio when he refuses to eat, drink, or pray with men who don't share his religious identity.
Quote 2
BASSANIO
'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate
By something showing a more swelling port
Than my faint means would grant continuance.
Nor do I now make moan to be abridged
From such a noble rate. But my chief care
Is to come fairly off from the great debts
Wherein my time something too prodigal,
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 unburden all my plots and purposes
How to get clear of all the debts I owe. (1.1.129-141)
Uh, oh—looks like somebody is really bad at managing his expenses. Bassanio reveals that he's not just broke but in serious debt—he's living way beyond his means. When Bassanio says he owes Antonio "the most, in money and in love," we also learn that Bassanio has been more than happy to sponge off his wealthy merchant friend. But Bassanio's got a plan for getting himself out of the financial mess he's created. Gee, we wonder what that could be...
Quote 3
BASSANIO
In Belmont is a lady richly left,
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues [...] (1.1.168-170)
Oh, of course. Bassanio's going to get himself out of debt by going after a rich heiress who lives in Belmont (that would be Portia). Keep reading...
Quote 4
BASSANIO
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renownèd suitors, and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond,
And many Jasons come in quest of her. (1.1.172-179)
When we read this passage, we can't help but notice that when Bassanio talks about wooing Portia, he tends to speak about her "worth," as if her only "value" comes from her money. When Bassanio compares Portia to Jason's Golden Fleece, he reinforces this notion. He seems to see his quest for Portia as a quest for fortune rather than love. Portia is reduced to the status of a meal ticket for her potential husband.
Quote 5
BASSANIO
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them (1.2.180-181)
Bassanio thinks Portia is the answer to his financial problems, but he's worried that he's too broke to court her. (Apparently, dating in the 16th century was pretty expensive, and Bassanio doesn't think ordering off the dollar menu is an option when you're trying to hook up with an heiress.) If only there were a solution to poor Bassanio's problem...
Quote 6
BASSANIO
To you, Antonio,
I owe the most in money and in love,
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburden all my plots and purposes
How to get clear of all the debts I owe. (1.1.137-141)
Bassanio says he's sharing with Antonio because they're friends, but he makes explicit that he owes Antonio the most in "money and love." (It turns out that Antonio has been very generous with Bassanio, who has a hard time keeping his finances in order.) This is our first hint that friendship might mean a different thing for Bassanio than it does for Antonio. Bassanio might just be working on Antonio's affection in order to keep his purse strings open.
Quote 7
BASSANIO.
You shall not seal to such a bond for me!
I'll rather dwell in my necessity. (1.3.166-167)
Hmm. Bassanio protests against Antonio's offer to put up a pound of flesh to secure his loan with Shylock, but he goes ahead and lets his BFF take the risk anyway. Seems like Bassanio is kind of a user, don't you think?
Quote 8
[BASSANIO reads]
Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my
creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to
the Jew is forfeit, and since, in paying it, it is impossible I
should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if
I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use
your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to
come, let not my letter. (3.2.328-334)
It seems that Antonio is testing Bassanio's love here, basically pitting his love for Antonio against his new love for Portia. Antonio is making a great sacrifice and wants some credit for it, especially if it will make him appear more noble and committed to Bassanio than Portia is.
BASSANIO
Antonio, I am married to a wife
Which is as dear to me as life itself,
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteemed above thy life.
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.
PORTIA [aside]
Your wife would give you little thanks for that
If she were by, to hear you make the offer. (4.1.294-301)
Bassanio seems to choose friendship over love here. Maybe it's because he thinks his friend is about to die, or maybe it's because he just married for money. Either way, Portia (disguised here as Balthazar) knows exactly where she stands, but she resolves to do something about it. Keep reading...
Quote 10
BASSANIO
In Belmont there is a lady richly left,
[...]
And many Jasons come in quest of her. (1.1.168, 179)
As we see here, Bassanio is interested in courting Portia because her father has left her a ton of dough. This would be great for Bassanio, who's completely broke. What's also interesting is the fact that Bassanio refers to Portia's suitors as a bunch of "Jasons" in "quest" of the Golden Fleece. (In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts went after the golden fleece of a winged ram, which landed Jason the throne of Iolcus.) Bassanio's reference to the Greek myth turns his courtship of Portia into an exciting and lucrative conquest.
Quote 11
BASSANIO
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia. (1.1.172-173)
This doesn't bode well as a comparison: Brutus' Portia was indeed a noble woman, but Brutus wasn't exactly the greatest husband. In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Portia dies a fairly arbitrary death, and Brutus shakes it off pretty easily. Hmm.
Quote 12
BASSANIO
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? (3.2.77-79)
Bassanio shows a great deal of wisdom here, reasoning that ornamentation can be deceiving. Anyone with a sweet voice can manipulate the law and disguise his true intent. This is particularly prescient, as Portia's eloquence will convince the court to impose a merciless sentence on Shylock and leave her looking like the picture of justice. Portia herself points out that justice can be contrary to the greater good of mercy.
Quote 13
BASSANIO
Like one of two contending in a prize
That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes,
Hearing applause and universal shout,
Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt
Whether those peals of praise be his or no,
So, thrice-fair lady, stand I even so,
As doubtful whether what I see be true,
Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you. (3.2.145-152)
Bassanio seems right to be utterly shocked and a little disbelieving at his victory in the casket game. Was Nerissa right when she said that fate and destiny would help make the decision?
BASSANIO
For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
SHYLOCK
Antonio shall become bound, well. (1.3.2)
It seems Bassanio doesn't grasp the gravity of his choice to offer up Antonio as collateral for his debt, especially if Shylock is out for blood from the very beginning.