Answer these questions
1. Describe the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio.
Answers
Antonio lets Bassanio use his money like it's his own. Antonio is already more than willing to lend him. This proves Antonio's selflessness and that he considers Bassanio a brother. Another proof of Antonio and Bassanio's deep friendship comes in scene 3 of Act 1 when the two are before Shylock to ask him for a loan.
Antonio and Bassanio are very good friends, becomes clear right from the initial scenes. Whatever slight doubt is there gets cleared by the end. Throughout the drama, the two friends are dearer than life to each other. Their love and trust for each other are evident at every stage of the drama. Each one of the two is ready to go to any extent to serve and help the other.
Antonio lets Bassanio use his money like it’s his own. He does not differentiate between himself and his friend. Bassanio has no money and he has been living in debt which he plans to repay. He also feels embarrassed over the large sums he has been borrowing from Antonio. However, Antonio’s money is tied in the cargo which is still at sea. So, he asks him to borrow from anyone in Venice in his name and go and see Portia. Bassanio has to do little to persuade his friend for money. Antonio is already more than willing to lend him. This proves Antonio’s selflessness and that he considers Bassanio more than a friend.
Antonio is doing it all for his friend since he would not like to see Bassanio disappointed. Bassanio suspects that the villain is up to something very cunning and tries to stop Antonio from accepting the Jew’s offer. He would instead go without the money than let his friend put his life at stake. However, Antonio convinces him that as soon as his ships arrive from the sea, he will return the Jew his money. All of this shows that the two friends love and trust each other deeply, and they will make any sacrifice for one another. It also shows that Antonio is quite emotional about his friend and can grow blinded by his love for him.
Bassanio receives Antonio’s letter while he is with Portia and grows anxious that he has lost his ships at sea and failed to repay the loan. Antonio loves Bassanio from the bosom of his heart and wishes to see him before the cunning Jew has taken his life away. His letter also contains a friendly rebuke for Bassanio, who seems to have forgotten his friend in Portia’s company. Bassanio has found his love, whereas fate has been cruel to Antonio, who has lost all his wealth, but Bassanio’s love and respect for his dearest pal have not reduced. Their friendship is not for money, but they are intensely loyal to each other. His friend’s letter appears like Antonio’s dead body to Bassanio. Every word in Antonio’s letter is calling him a liar and disloyal. After all, it is for him and his love that Antonio had borrowed from the Jew. He feels guilty that he has betrayed his friend, and he would never be able to pardon himself if Antonio dies.
It gets clear that both friends are fiercely loyal to each other. At first glance, it may look like Antonio is making all the sacrifices, and Bassanio is using him to find his love. Antonio is an honest young gentleman who believes in fair business and is equally kind-hearted. Their trust in each other reveals that both are honest and honorable characters, true to their word. The bond between the two is unbreakable, and even when Antonio has no money, his worth for his friend has not been reduced. It signifies several things, including the credibility of the two characters, their selflessness, and their devotion to each other. Shakespeare has provided one of the best examples of friendship and loyalty through Antonio and Bassanio in his Merchant of Venice.