The theme of friendship and loyalty in The
Merchant of Venice is represented on many levels and by many characters, but
the most pronounced representatives of it are Antonio and Bassanio, who represent both
friendship and loyalty. Antonio and Bassanio have a deep and genuine friendship that
even extends to honest representations of information that others may receive a
falsified idea of. Specifically, Antonio at first protests that he is not concerned
about his ships because he has money invested in more places than his ships, so if they
are delayed in or prevented from returning with their cargos of imports, Antonio won't
be financially ruined.
However, when Bassanio comes to ask
his assistance, Antonio tells him the truth as he says that everything he has depends
uopn the safe return of his ships, so much so that he sends Bassanio to the marketplace
to secure a loan in Antonio's name for the three tousand ducats that Bassanio needs. And
speaking of Bassanio, he too displays the true picture of his situation. He says there
is a chance he can marry a very wealthy woman and therefore needs money, of which he has
none, to make a good showing of himself; in other words, he confides in Antonio that he
doesn't want to look like the penniless, shiftless, fortune-hunter that he is. Only
people with deep friendships confide truths like these to each other. As to their
loyalty, Antonio pledges his flesh to help Bassanio, and Bassanio wishes to be able to
sacrifice himself, his new wife, and all her wealth to be able to save Antonio from the
court's ruling in favor of Shylock's claim stemming from the forfeited repayment of the
money as required by the loan contract.
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