What evidence do we have that Antonio was a rich Merchant ?
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Answer:
Antonio certainly gives the appearance of being a wealthy man. He's a successful merchant with a large fleet of ships engaging in profitable trade throughout the world. He clearly has money to spare, as he often helps people out financially when they've fallen on hard times. People come to Antonio when they've got into debt with Shylock and can't pay him back. This is just one of many reasons why Shylock hates him so much.
In the past, Antonio has often bailed out his friend Bassanio, who always seems to be in need of money. But there are limits to Antonio's largesse. Because when Bassanio comes looking for another handout—this time because he wants to marry Portia—Antonio is forced to borrow the money from Shylock, which he must pay back on forfeit of losing a pound of flesh. It would seem that Antonio's generosity has finally caught up with him. But he wouldn't have been able to be so generous in the past had he not been so wealthy.
Explanation: