Gratiano
Notes on Gratiano
The Sadness of the Merchant
Read the NoteIn the opening lines of The Merchant of Venice, the young merchant Antonio is questioned by his friends about his sadness. His friends Salarino, Solanio and Gratiano attempt to determine why Antonio is sad. Antonio denies that his sadness is about his concern for his investments in merchandise at sea. When asked if his melancholy is because he is in love,
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Better Angels
Read the NoteThe only mention in any of Shakespeare’s plays of the “better angel” is in Othello (5.2.235), when Gratiano, speaking over Desdemona’s body, speaks of her father:
Did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
Shakespeare makes another mention of the “better angel”
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Appearance and Prejudice
Read the NoteOne of Shakespeare’s most frequent themes is appearance versus reality. This theme manifests itself in different ways for different purposes. In Merchant of Venice (2.2.181), Bassanio says to Gratiano:
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice—
Parts that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults.
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Quotes spoken by the character Gratiano
You look not well, Signior Antonio
Read the QuoteGratiano
You look not well, Signior Antonio.
You have too much respect upon the world.
They lose it that do buy it with much care.
Believe me, you are marvelously changed.
Antonio
I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano,
A stage where every man must play a part,
And mine a sad one.
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Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano
Read the QuoteBassanio
Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano,
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice—
Parts that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as oursSynecdoche appear not faults.
But where thou art not known—why, there they show
Something too liberal. Pray thee take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
PersonificationThy skipping spirit,
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And it is marvel he outdwells his hour
Read the QuoteGratiano
And it is marvel he outdwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.
Salarino
O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new-made than they are wont
To keep obligèd faith unforfeited.
Gratiano
That ever holds. Who riseth from a feast
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
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Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Read the QuoteGratiano
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shylock
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there.
Gratiano
Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can,
No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness
Of thy sharp envy.
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O, O, O!
Read the QuoteOthello
O, O, O!
Othello falls on the bed.
Emilia
Nay, lay thee down, and roar!
For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
That e’er did lift up eye.
Othello, standing
O, she was foul!—
I scarce did know you, uncle. There lies your niece,
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Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?
Read the QuoteLodovico
Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?
Othello
That’s he that was Othello. Here I am.
Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.
From this time forth I never will speak word.
Lodovico
Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.
Iago is brought forward.
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Soft you. A word or two before you go
Read the QuoteOthello
Soft you. A word or two before you go.
I have done the state some service, and they know ’t.
No more of that. I pray you in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice.
Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely,
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