Bassanio
In act 3, scene 2, Bassanio finally reaches Belmont, and Portia urges him to wait before choosing between the three caskets that determine if he gets to marry her.
Finally, a letter from Antonio arrives telling Bassanio of the misfortunes of his ships, and it also explains how eager Shylock is to get his end of the bargain.
In act 5, scene 1, Bassanio and Antonio return to Belmont and greet their wives who appear to be angry that they gave their rings away.
[1] Most scholars agree that the character of Bassanio has his origins from two texts called Gesta Romanorum and Il Pecorone.
Besides basic plot differences, Shakespeare also added specific character traits to Bassanio that did not exist in these previous sources.
During an early scene in the play, Antonio says to Bassanio that "My purse, my person, my extremest means / Lie all unlocked to your occasions".
[3] They argue that it was natural for young gentlemen, such as Bassanio, at the time to marry for wealth since a large part of their identity was to be able to live a life of luxury.
Additionally, some argue that this comment cannot be taken to mean his actual feelings since he is speaking to Antonio in order to obtain a loan to marry Portia.
Some scholars argue that Bassanio has a change of heart during his travels to Belmont saying that his confessions of love to Portia after the casket scene are truly what he feels.
Clifford Williams directed a 1965 production of the play that suggested for the first time that there could be an implication of homosexuality between Antonio and Bassanio.
In a 1987 production of the play directed by Bill Alexander, portrayed a very romantic relationship between Bassanio and Antonio in which they kiss at the end of scene 1.
At the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1997, a slight change is made to the character of Bassanio in which he spills out gold coins at the end of the trial scene which remain there for the entirety of the play reminding the audience of the underlying motivations of wealth.
[citation needed] In 1947, a made for TV movie was produced by George More O'Ferrall where André Morell plays Bassanio.
[16] In 1953, an Italian version called Le Marchand de Venise was made that cast Armando Francioli as Bassanio.
[16] Anthony Ainley played Bassanio in a 1969 Orson Welles film called The Merchant of Venice, but the footage was lost and the movie was never finished.
[citation needed] In a review by Roger Ebert, he expresses his opinion that this film adaptation makes clear the implication that Antonio is in love Bassanio.
