This is a great question to consider. I think personally
that the character of Bassanio is a fascinating example of a character who occupies the
social position of a gentleman whilst at the same time showing little evidence of acting
as we feel a gentleman should act. We could therefore argue that this play, like other
works of literature such as Great Expectations, helps us to analyse
the difference between what we can term gentlemen and gentle-men, or men who are
gentlemen through class and those who actually act like gentlemen, but may not occupy
that position.
Personally, I have never been that impressed
with Bassanio as a character, and fail to understand why Portia was so excited about
him. Let us remember that in Act I scene 1, Bassanio uses his relationship with Antonio
(that may or may not be based on homosexuality) to manipulate Antonio into giving him
more money after he confesses how he has wasted his own
fortunes:
'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.
The way in which
he is very open about his profligate ways to the man who he knows loves him and will do
anything for him shows that Bassanio is an irresponsible and calculating individual who
looks for others to help him out of the trouble his own actions have landed him in
rather than taking responsibility for his difficulties himself. The way he describes
Portia and her wealth likewise shows us that his real aim is the mercenary possession of
her wealth to fund his spendthrift ways. Therefore, at least of the beginning of the
play, I don't think we can argue that Bassanio displays the character of a gentleman at
all, even if he is, by birth, a gentleman.
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