Quote 4
BASSANIO
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renownèd 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. (1.1.172-179)
When we read this passage, we can't help but notice that when Bassanio talks about wooing Portia, he tends to speak about her "worth," as if her only "value" comes from her money. When Bassanio compares Portia to Jason's Golden Fleece, he reinforces this notion. He seems to see his quest for Portia as a quest for fortune rather than love. Portia is reduced to the status of a meal ticket for her potential husband.
Quote 5
BASSANIO
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them (1.2.180-181)
Bassanio thinks Portia is the answer to his financial problems, but he's worried that he's too broke to court her. (Apparently, dating in the 16th century was pretty expensive, and Bassanio doesn't think ordering off the dollar menu is an option when you're trying to hook up with an heiress.) If only there were a solution to poor Bassanio's problem...
Quote 6
BASSANIO
To you, Antonio,
I owe the most in money and in love,
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburden all my plots and purposes
How to get clear of all the debts I owe. (1.1.137-141)
Bassanio says he's sharing with Antonio because they're friends, but he makes explicit that he owes Antonio the most in "money and love." (It turns out that Antonio has been very generous with Bassanio, who has a hard time keeping his finances in order.) This is our first hint that friendship might mean a different thing for Bassanio than it does for Antonio. Bassanio might just be working on Antonio's affection in order to keep his purse strings open.