How does bassanio use antonio

He also shows that he is prepared to risk his life for his friendship when he signs the contract with Shylock. Other friends suggest that Antonio only loves life itself because of Bassanio. Antonio seems to wish for a more honest world in which there is no confusion between reality and appearance.

He says:. How do we see Antonio react when Portia asks Shylock to take his pound of flesh? He is accepting of his fate. His final words to Bassanio are all about love. He asks Bassanio not to grieve and says he is more than happy to pay this debt for his friend.

Here he speaks his apparently final words. What misery does Antonio say he will avoid by dying now? What, not one hit?

Therefore, Antonio does not have the money to pay back Shylock and is in danger of having to pay the penalty of a pound of his own flesh. Antonio was initially confident that his investment was guaranteed, but he learns the hard way that nothing is ever certain.

Ace your assignments with our guide to The Merchant of Venice! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. He's even willing to let his best friend risk his life by putting up a "pound of flesh" as collateral so he can take out a personal loan from Shylock. What kind of a person does that? Notice how Bassanio uses words like "value" and "worth" to describe his future wife? It's clear that Bassanio sees Portia as a meal ticket. We're not saying Bassanio doesn't care about Portia.

There does seem to be some real affection between the two when they're hanging out in Belmont. What we are saying is this: even after he gets hitched to Portia, Bassanio's loyalty to his new wife is questionable and he seems to value his bromance with Antonio more than anything else. Our evidence?

Well, Bassanio admits that Antonio is his number one priority when he rushes from Portia's house to Antonio's trial. Bassanio seems to float through life, reaping the benefits of his rich friends.