Question

What is the relationship between Nerissa and Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice?

Accepted Answer

The relationship between Nerissa and Gratiano in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is unconventional, in the sense that they seem wholly unsuited to each other. Nevertheless, they are drawn to each other, perhaps as much by the circumstances of the relationship between Gratiano's friend, Antonio, and Nerissa's mistress, Portia, as by their own attraction for one another.

Answer

When Gratiano first appears in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Antonio, the merchant of the title of the play, gives Gratiano an opportunity to speak about the ages of man.

ANTONIO. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano;A stage, where every man must play a part,And mine a sad one.(act 1, scene 1, lines 80–82)

Rather than offer an eloquent, poetic exploration of the stages of life, like Jaques does in As You Like It—which Shakespeare wrote about three years later—Gratiano speaks nonsense, which his friend, Bassanio, tells Antonio is part of Gratiano's fundamental nature.

BASSANIO. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice: his reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them; and when you have them they are not worth the search.
(act 1, scene 1, lines 119–123)

When Gratiano next appears in the play, he requests that he be allowed to accompany Bassanio to Belmont when Bassanio travels there to see Portia, a wealthy heiress with whom Antonio has fallen in love.
Bassanio acquiesces to Gratiano's request, but he tells Bassanio to his face that he has serious reservations about Gratiano's behavior and that he doesn't want Gratiano to embarrass him or cause him to lose his chance with Portia.

BASSANIO. 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 ours appear not faults;But where thou art not known, why, there they showSomething too liberal: pray thee, take painTo allay with some cold drops of modesty,Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild behavior,I be misconster'd in the place I go to,And lose my hopes.(act 2, scene 2, lines 167–176)

Between these two appearances of Gratiano, the audience has an opportunity to observe Nerissa, Portia's lady-in-waiting, friend, confidant, and co-conspirator. Nerissa is bright, witty, and has no trouble whatsoever speaking her mind to Portia, either when calling Portia to task for complaining about her life—"You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were / in the same abundance as your good fortunes are"—or giving her good, common-sense advice about Portia's many suitors.
It's not entirely clear in the play as to when Gratiano and Nerissa become attracted to each other. When Bassanio chooses the correct casket and wins Portia's hand in marriage, Gratiano asks if he, too, can get married.

BASSANIO. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.(act 3, scene 2, line 199)

Gratiano tells Bassanio that he and Nerissa developed a relationship while Bassanio and Portia were becoming enamored of each other and that Nerissa promised to marry him if Bassanio chose the correct casket.
Portia is as surprised an Bassanio to learn about this.

PORTIA. Is this true, Nerissa?
NERISSA. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal.
BASSANIO. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?
GRATIANO. Yes, faith, my lord.(act 3, scene 2, lines 213–216)

From what the audience knows about Gratiano and Nerissa, they seem wholly unsuited for each other. The basis of their relationship and the importance of their relationship to each of them is also open to question, particularly considering that the continuance of their relationship is based entirely on Bassanio's choice of casket.
Then, too, Portia and Bassanio's continuing relationship is based on Bassanio's choice of casket as well, and Portia and Bassanio have spent no more time together than have Nerissa and Gratiano. There is also a lingering question about whether Bassanio pursued and wooed Portia for her money.
Mismatched lovers are not uncommon in Shakespeare's plays, of course. The "love at first sight" scenario is the mainstay of his comedies and is seen in his histories and tragedies as well.
The minor subplot about the rings that Portia and Nerissa gave to Bassanio and Gratiano is comic, certainly, but it lends a dark undertone to their relationships. It also seems unnecessarily cruel as a means for Bassanio and Gratiano to prove their love to Portia and Nerissa, although this is entirely consistent with the nature of the play as a whole, in which comedy and cruelty appear side-by-side throughout.
An interesting aspect of the subplot with the rings is that it upsets the traditional male-dominated aspect of Elizabethan marriages by giving Nerissa and Portia the upper hand over Gratiano and Bassanio, and it provides them with something they can use to control their husbands throughout their marriages.

Answer

Nerissa and Gratiano's relationship is a traditional one, in keeping with most marriages of the time. Gratiano is very much the dominant partner in the marriage, with Nerissa occupying a more subordinate role. That said, Nerissa shows herself to be an intelligent woman, acting as a trusted confidante to Portia. She also shows herself to be highly spirited, more than able to stand up for herself. For instance, she loudly berates her husband for breaking his solemn promise to her; he gave away their wedding ring to a lawyer's clerk as payment of a fee. As with most relationships, then, their marriage has its fair share of ups and downs.
But, on the whole, one would have to say that Nerissa and Gratiano's marriage is very much a love match. In that sense, they are emulating the example of Portia and Bassanio, whose relationship theirs closely mirrors. Indeed, Portia also berates Bassanio for giving away his wedding ring to the lawyer who saved Antonio. Though, of course, it was Portia in disguise who actually tricked him into parting with the ring. But both couples, being so terribly in love as they are, subsequently reconcile, demonstrating the importance, once more, of following the example of one's social betters.

Answer

The relationship between Nerissa and Gratiano mirrors Portia and Bassanio's compassionate, supportive, and healthy relationship. Both Nerissa and Gratiano are portrayed as loyal, trustworthy friends, who are willing to follow and support Portia and Bassanio through difficult times. Gratiano accompanies Bassanio to Belmont, where Nerissa agrees to marry Gratiano if Bassanio chooses the correct casket for Portia. After Bassanio picks the right casket to win Portia, Nerissa and Gratiano get married alongside Bassanio and Portia. Similar to Portia, Nerissa allows Gratiano to accompany Bassanio back to Venice in order to save Antonio's life. Nerissa then disguises herself as Portia's assistant when the two women travel to Venice and intervene in Antonio's trial. After Portia saves Antonio's life, she convinces Bassanio to give up his ring, and Nerissa follows suit by also persuading her husband to give up his ring. In the end, Portia and Nerissa reveal their true identities and both couples remain happily married. Overall, Nerissa and Gratiano share a loving, supportive, and healthy relationship.

Answer

In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Nerissa is the intelligent and savvy waiting woman of the play's heroine, Portia, while Gratiano is the loud-mouthed but good friend of Bassanio. These supporting characters seem to do exactly that: support and serve as reflections of their protagonist counterparts.
The relationship between Nerissa and Gratiano develops as a mirroring of the relationship between Portia and Bassanio; when Portia and Bassanio get married after Bassanio passes Portia's father's test, Nerissa follows suit and marries Gratiano. This seems to make the bond between Portia and Bassanio even stronger, as it is a match reinforced by the union of the two people who are around them the most. Although neither Nerissa nor Gratiano are particularly independent or capable of resolving problems on their own, together they are able to join forces in reinforcing the integrity of their friends' relationship. Ultimately, they are loyal to each other and loyal to Portia and Bassanio.

Answer

Like Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and Gratiano are in love and get married during the play. The eNotes study guide describes the two marriages as "almost a mirror image":Nerissa imitates the actions and embraces the values of her mistress. In the copycat wedding of Nerissa and Gratiano and in the parallels of the ring subplot, The Merchant of Venice offers a lesson in Elizabethan social conduct: lower-class persons should mimic their social superiors.The scene with the two couples and the missing rings in Act V serves as comic relief after Shylock's "trial."Visit the links below for more information.

The Merchant of Venice

What is the relationship between Nerissa and Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice?

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