Question

(v) Is Bassanio justified in his demand for fresh loans? How? How does he
propose to pay back the previous loans?​

Answer 1

• Yes, Bassanio is justified in his demand for fresh loans. He admits to Antonio that he has been careless and reckless with his finances but he plans to clear off all his debts and finances by using the money he would get from his marriage to Portia, a wealthy heiress.
• In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock loans Bassanio three thousand ducats without interest for a term of three months with Antonio backing Bassanio to guarantee the loan. One of the conditions of this loan is that Antonio must pay in a pound of flesh if he cannot repay the loan itself on time.