Q: Identify significant relationships in The Merchant of Venice and show how each relationship contributes to your understanding of the theme of love.
             In the play The Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare, there are various significant relationships that contribute to the theme of love. These include the romantic type with Bassanio and Portia, the friendship type with Antonio and Bassanio. There are also the relationships that contrast love. These include the parental type with Jessica and Shylock and the business type with Antonio and Shylock these relationships show love for money, possessions, self and power. They are all shown through different techniques, language and irony.
             One of the significant relationships, which are romantic, is Bassanio and Portia. Their romantic relationship shows the theme of love and contrasts the relationships that don't have love. In their relationship money is an issue but it isn't that important. For example, in the start Bassanio's first comment of Portia is about money. Bassanio describes Portia as "richly left." Their love soon changes when Bassanio can be seen as a worthy gentleman with good sense and honour and shows true love for Portia. For example when he is choosing the caskets and rejects the gold and silver casket and then chooses the lead, he says, "The world is still deceived with ornament". This quote shows that he isn't superficial like the others and that he truly loves Portia not being deceived by appearances. Portia equally returns the love to Bassanio. For Example, Portia says to Bassanio before he chooses the casket, "If you do love me, you will find me out." This quote shows that Portia loves him and wants him to pick the right casket. Another example is when Portia was able to disguise herself as a lawyer to help Bassanio's friend.
             Their love is shown through imagery of the caskets where images can appear ...