MoV: 3.1-3.2: Happily Ever After?

The beginning of Act three was action-packed filled with new events and new interactions between characters. I thought the plot moved incredibly fast because three months have passed and Antonio finds out of his shipwrecks and that he is unable to repay Shylock three thousand ducats, Jessica elopes with Lorenzo to Genoa, Bassanio chooses the right casket and is Portia gives him her ring indicating that his is to be the new lord of Belmont. Portia and Bassanio celebrate their happiness and union of love but the terrible news from Antonio casts a shadow upon their newly found happiness. Gratiano, who accompanied Bassanio to Belmont is also engaged to Nerrisa and he says, 

"We are the Jasons, we have won the Fleece" (3.2.250)

This line also draws reference to the previous lines in Act one when Bassanio describes Portia in Act One. "Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks/ Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, /Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond,/And many Jasons come in quest of her." (1.1.176-179)

Portia and Nerissa are the golden fleece that they have won and this further emphasizes the monetary nature of marriages. Marriages are described as an economic transaction where the women are the idealized trophy to be won by the man who fights for her. Bassanio and Gratiano are the ones who hold victory and they appear almost as the heroes who have been rewarded with beautiful, fair women. This certainly objectifies the two women and it reminded me of Jessica gilding herself for Lorenzo. Come to think of it, the two main women are both rich due to their father's wealth. Does this indicate that they are wealthy because of men and not for their own credit? When they grow up, they become bait for men to catch because of all the wealth they have and they are more than willing to be objectified and to fulfill men's desires. I just find the whole golden fleece reference disturbing and I hate how the women are being objectified even they have many other qualities to offer, for example Portia's wisdom and wittiness and Jessica doesn't seem like such a terrible person but she does betray her father, trades her father's turquoise ring for monkeys and converts to Christianity to leave her Jewish heritage and pursue love (okay maybe she does pale in comparison to Portia, but let's not forget Portia's racist views!)

One particular line that caught my attention was when Portia declares all of herself and all of what she owns to be "converted" to his possession.

"Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours/Is now converted" (3.2.170-171)

This line rang a bell for me because of the use of the word "converted" and once again it mimics the scene where Jessica expresses her desire to convert to Christianity and become Lorenzo's loving wife. Instead of the subject of love, Portia's conversion consisted of economic diction. Portia herself becomes Bassanio's property along with her wealth.

There's definitely parallels in Portia and Jessica's wealth-driven pursuit of marriage but will their romantic endeavors both end in a happily ever after?

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