Bassanio and Antonio have a very close friendship. When Bassanio needs money to court Portia, he goes to Antonio. Even though Bassanio already owes Antonio a great deal of money, the merchant agrees to help his young friend with very little persuasion. Additionally, since Antonio's fortune is all tied up in his ships, the merchant must risk his life to insure a loan with the moneylender, Shylock, by promising a pound of his own flesh in the event that the money is lost at sea. This shows an intense dedication that very few people have for their friends.
Experts have wondered what makes the relationship so strong. Does Antonio see himself as a mentor figure to the young man? Are they simply dear friends? Because of these dedicated actions and frequent exchanges of affection, some have even suggested that the two men might be lovers. While this is an interesting notion, it is important to also note that men in these times tended to be much more expressive of their platonic love than is common in the West today.
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