Tanishqa asked 7 years ago
Who was Cato? Why is he mentioned in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice?
Cato is the father of Brutus’ wife Portia. He is mentioned here to tell that Bassanio’s Portia is no less beautiful than her namesake Brutus’s wife Portia.
Cato or Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis was a Roman statesman in the pre-Christian era.
In Act I, Sc 1 of the play The Merchant of Venice, Portia is compared to another Portia, famous Roman heroine, the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus for her beauty and world-famous riches.
Cato was the father of Brutus’ wife Portia, who was known famously for her wealth and beauty. Portia in the play has been compared and said to be nothing less than her in brains, beauty as well as money. Bassanio compares the two women to give Antonio an idea of how great the woman he wishes to marry is.