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Bassanio The Distasteful Husband Analysis

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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 …show more content…
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 …show more content…
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
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