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As you can see, 
ratiano
and 
erissa are
the voices of reason for Bassanio and Portia,
respectively. They try to bring their friends down to earth, often
(especially in Gratiano's case) humorously. It is easy to see why they end
up together: their outlooks on life are decidedly similar.
For example, observe Gratiano's wry outlook on new love:
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"All things that are, / are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. / How like a younger or a prodigal / the scarfed bark puts from her native bay, / hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind! / How like the prodigal doth she return, / with overweathered ribs and ragged sails, / lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!" (II.vi.13-20) |
This speech shows Gratiano's intelligence and his wry sense of humor. He is not one to take anything too seriously. Bassanio knows this, so before they leave for Belmont he tells Gratiano that he is "too wild, too rude and bold of voice" and that he should try to "allay with some cold drops of modesty thy skipping spirit"(II.ii.172-178) when they get there. In other words, "don't embarrass me, buddy." Gratiano promises he will reign it in:
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"If I do not put on a sober habit, / talk with respect and swear but now and then, / ...use all the observance of civility, / like one well studied in a sad ostent / to please his grandam, never trust me more" (II.ii.181-188). |
Here we find that for all his jokes, Gratiano is a good and loyal friend.
While Gratiano has to follow Bassanio around as he woos Portia, Nerissa has to listen to Portia's complaints about her suitor troubles. She patiently asks Portia about each of her suitors and then listens as Portia bashes each one. This is definitely the mark of a good friend. But we see more of Nerissa's friendship (and her wit) later on in the play, when she agrees to dress up as a man and go along with Portia's scheme to go to the Venetian court. She also plays her part very well in the ring joke. See how she angrily "scolds" Gratiano for giving away her ring to "the judge's clerk" (who was really, in case you forgot, Nerissa herself):
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"You swore to me, when I did give it you, / that you would wear it till your hour of death / and that it should lie with you in your grave. / Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, / you should have been respective and have kept it. / Gave it a judge's clerk! No, God's my judge, / the clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it" (V.i.152-158). |
Notice the sly joke about the clerk never having any facial hair! This is one funny chick.
THE PERFECT PAIR
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(Charles Quartermain as Gratiano and Dorothy Minto as Nerissa)
Travel back 
or to Gratiano
and Nerissa's Links.
Portia / Shylock / Bassanio / Antonio / Lorenzo & Jessica / Salerio & Solanio / The Gobbos / The Princes / The Duke / The Servants
