Merchant of Venice #1

Antonio and Bassanio have a close friendship, although Antonio anchors the friendship down because of the great care he shows Bassanio. Antonio and Bassanio do show a mutual respect for each other although the care that makes their friendship so strong is most heavily derived from Antonio's great care for his friend Bassanio. As Bassanio recalls his great debts to his friend Antonio, " To you, Antonio,/ i owe the most in money and in love.../" (I.1.ll.137-138). From this we can determine that Antonio has done much for Bassanio in the past. Also we see that Bassanio has been unreliable to Antonio in the premise of repaying his debts. We see that Antonio has shown great support for his friend Bassanio in the past, but he has been not repayed for his compassion to Bassanio. Although Antonio does not stop helping even after the great debts that Bassanio spoke of. Antonio then answers, " My purse, my person, my extremest means/ Lie all unlocked to your occasions. (I.1.ll.145-146). Even after Bassanio's bad track record of not repaying the debts he owes to Antonio, Antonio continues to show a unquestioned devotion to helping out his friend Bassanio. This devotion is the basis to their friendship and it is derived solely from Antonio's great love and respect for Bassanio. In conclusion we see that the friendship held between Antonio and Bassanio is in fact close, but in the friendship Anotonio shows greater love, devotion, and self sacrifice for Bassanio then Bassanio has ever shown for him.