In Act 3, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Portia expresses her deep affection and commitment to Bassanio, offering herself and all her possessions to him.

Title of Monologue:

Portia's Monologue from The Merchant of Venice (Act 3 Scene 2)

Synopsis:

Portia reveals her vulnerability and devotion to Bassanio, wishing she were more worthy for his sake. She offers herself, her estate, and all she owns to him, symbolized by the giving of a ring, which she asks him never to part with as a token of their love.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Bassanio has successfully chosen the correct casket, winning Portia's hand in marriage. This monologue is Portia's heartfelt response to Bassanio's success and her acceptance of him as her husband.

Original Text:

PORTIA:


You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand,

Such as I am: though for myself alone

I would not be ambitious in my wish,

To wish myself much better; yet, for you

I would be trebled twenty times myself;

A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich;

That only to stand high in your account,

I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends,

Exceed account; but the full sum of me

Is sum of something, which, to term in gross,

Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised;

Happy in this, she is not yet so old

But she may learn; happier than this,

She is not bred so dull but she can learn;

Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit

Commits itself to yours to be directed,

As from her lord, her governor, her king.

Myself and what is mine to you and yours

Is now converted: but now I was the lord

Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,

Queen o'er myself: and even now, but now,

This house, these servants and this same myself

Are yours, my lord: I give them with this ring;

Which when you part from, lose, or give away,

Let it presage the ruin of your love

And be my vantage to exclaim on you.


Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

PORTIA:

You see me here, Lord Bassanio, as I am. For my own sake, I wouldn't wish to be better than I am. But for you, I wish I were sixty times better—more beautiful, wealthier—so I could stand higher in your estimation. I wish I could surpass all expectations in virtue, beauty, wealth, and friends. But in total, I am just an uneducated, inexperienced girl. Fortunately, I'm not too old to learn, and I'm not too dull to be taught. Most fortunately, my gentle spirit commits itself to you to be directed, as my lord, governor, and king. I and all I own are now yours. Just now, I was the owner of this mansion, master of my servants, queen over myself. But now, this house, these servants, and I myself are yours, my lord. I give them to you with this ring. If you part with, lose, or give away this ring, it will signal the end of your love and give me the right to reproach you.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

  • Trebled twenty times: Multiplied sixtyfold.

  • Livings: Possessions or wealth.

  • To term in gross: To sum up in general terms.

  • Unlesson'd: Uneducated.

  • Converted: Transferred or given over.

  • Presage: Foretell or indicate.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

  1. Self-Presentation and Modesty:
    You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand,
    Such as I am: though for myself alone
    I would not be ambitious in my wish,
    To wish myself much better;
    Portia presents herself humbly to Bassanio, stating that she wouldn't wish to be better for her own sake.

  2. Desire to Be Worthier for Bassanio:
    yet, for you
    I would be trebled twenty times myself;
    A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich;
    That only to stand high in your account,
    I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends,
    Exceed account;
    She expresses a desire to be vastly more—beautiful, wealthy, virtuous, and well-connected—to be worthy in Bassanio's eyes.

  3. Acknowledgment of Limitations:
    but the full sum of me
    Is sum of something, which, to term in gross,
    Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised;
    Portia acknowledges her limitations, describing herself as uneducated and inexperienced.

  4. Willingness to Learn and Submit:
    Happy in this, she is not yet so old
    But she may learn; happier than this,
    She is not bred so dull but she can learn;
    Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit
    Commits itself to yours to be directed,
    As from her lord, her governor, her king.
    She expresses her willingness to learn and submit to Bassanio's guidance, viewing him as her lord and king.

  5. Transfer of Possessions and Self:
    Myself and what is mine to you and yours
    Is now converted: but now I was the lord
    Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
    Queen o'er myself: and even now, but now,
    This house, these servants and this same myself
    Are yours, my lord:
    Portia declares that she and all her possessions now belong to Bassanio, transferring ownership of her estate and herself to him.

  6. Symbolism of the Ring:
    I give them with this ring;
    Which when you part from, lose, or give away,
    Let it presage the ruin of your love
    And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
    She gives Bassanio a ring as a token of their love, stating that if he parts with it, it will signify the end of his love and give her the right to reproach him.

Journey Keypoints:

  • Hook: Portia's humble self-presentation and modesty.

  • Turning Point: Her expression of a desire to be more worthy for Bassanio.

  • Climax: The acknowledgment of her limitations and willingness to learn.

  • Resolution: The transfer of her possessions and self to Bassanio, symbolized by the giving of the ring.

This monologue showcases Portia's humility, devotion, and readiness to commit herself entirely to Bassanio, highlighting her depth of character and the sincerity of her love.