In the quote, "Your wife would give you little thanks, if she were present, to hear you make this offer," what was the offer? Who made it?
In act 4, scene 1, Portia is disguised as a young lawyer named Balthasar and administers justice during Antonio's trial. Immediately before Shylock is about to cut a pound of Antonio's flesh because he forfeited on his loan, Bassanio laments and expresses his love for Antonio by saying,
Antonio, I am married to a wife
Which is as dear to me as life itself.
But life itself, my wife, and all the world
Are not with me esteemed above thy life.
I would lose all—ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil—to deliver you.
(Shakespeare, 4.1.272-278)
Bassanio is not aware that his wife is disguised as Balthasar and is listening to him say that he would be willing sacrifice her in order to save Antonio's life. Portia responds by saying,
Your wife would give you little thanks for that
If she were by to hear you make the offer.
(Shakespeare, 4.1.279-280)
Essentially, Bassanio was offering to sacrifice Portia's life in order to save Antonio, which prompted Portia's response. Bassanio's comment is significant and illustrates that he loves Antonio more than Portia. Fortunately, Portia exercises her intelligence and finds a loophole that saves Antonio's life while simultaneously punishing Shylock for attempting to kill him.
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