brief character sketch of bassanio in Act 2 scene 1
Answers
Explanation:
Bassanio plays a central role in the play. In fact, he is really the character who initiates the circumstances around which practically the entire play revolves. We learn that he is very close to Antonio and is probably his best friend. We can gauge much about his character from his opinion of himself and from reports about him by others.
When we first meet him in Act one, scene one, Salanio refers to him as Antonio's 'noble kinsman,' which implies that he is a gentleman and in some way related to Antonio, the Christian sea merchant. Bassanio is clearly a friendly and sociable individual who comes across as popular, for he asks Salarino and Salario:
Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?
You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?
By his own admission, he comes across as quite irresponsible with money and is constantly in debt, as he tells Antonio, in part:
'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate,...
... but my chief care
Is to come fairly off from the great debts
Wherein my time something too prodigal
Hath left me gaged...
...How to get clear of all the debts I owe.
He creates the impression of a man who tends to abuse his friend's kindness, for he admits to having asked Antonio for loans many times before. Furthermore, he is an unreliable debtor, for he does not repay past loans, which also emphasizes that he is irresponsible and perhaps somewhat uncaring in this particular regard. He is obviously a charmer, and a good speaker, for he uses beautifully apt metaphoric language, such as the description of a lost arrow, to impress Antonio. He is definitely persuasive and confident, for Antonio is easily swayed by him.
Further evidence of his confidence is when he tells Antonio that he has a chance with the beautiful and rich heiress Portia if he had the material means to woo her.
...sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:...
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,
I have a mind presages me such thrift,
That I should questionless be fortunate!
This conceit is later supported by Nerissa and Portia's comments about him in Act 1, scene 2:
NERISSA
Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a
Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither
in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?
PORTIA
Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.
NERISSA
True, madam: he, of all the men that ever my foolish
eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.
PORTIA
I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of
thy praise.
We also learn that Bassanio is quite generous, for he later employs Launcelot as his servant and instructs those in his employ to present him with new livery. Launcelot also vouches for his generosity by comparing Bassanio to his erstwhile master, Shylock, who was stingy.
Furthermore, Bassanio shows a deep care for, and loyalty to his friends, especially Antonio, since he rushes to Venice in his defence against Shylock's malicious appeal for justice when Antonio forfeits on the bond.
On the whole, Bassanio comes across as your proverbial 'good guy' who has a few flaws, but none of them are serious or malicious enough to deserve our condemnation.
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