how does Antonio assure his friends that his merchandise doesn't make him sad? story of Shakespeare- the merchant of venice(beginning part)
Answers
While Salanio and Salarino feel that Antonio's sadness is because of his feeling anxious about the safety of the ships carrying his merchandise, Antonio assures them that this is not the case.
He tells him that he is very grateful to his fortune that it all his merchandise is not being carried in the bottom of one vessel, meaning all his goods are not in one ship. He has used the services of many ships to transport his merchandise.
Also, all the ships are not headed to one place. The ships are going in different directions and to different geographical locations, traversing different areas of the ocean.
Further, he has been a wise businessman and has saved enough money. So, though the possibility of all the ships drowning or being marooned and the goods being lost is very low, even if that happens, Antonio is financially stable enough to handle that catastrophe as well. Going by this logic, there is no reason for him to be worried about his business ventures.
While Salanio and Salarino feel that Antonio's sadness is because of his feeling anxious about the safety of the ships carrying his merchandise, Antonio assures them that this is not the case.