After this statement we can infer that Antonio expects in a relationship of friendship gratitude, or perhaps he expects that because for him it is more than a relationship of friendship. In the Merchant of Venice, we also observe Antonio’s opinion about what friendship should not be, for example, the interest on loans:

… for when did friendship take 
A breed for barren metal of his friend?

(MV Act I.iii, 125-126)

Therefore, for Antonio there is no place for a friendship based on utility. Nevertheless, there are some experts, as Christopher A. Colmo, who think that “friendship in Venice is what Aristotle would call the friendship of utility”; “the service of self-interest is what holds Venice together”.

According to some experts, in the Merchant of Venice, Antonio uses several ways to keep Bassanio with him, may be the reader can not see them at first glance, but we are going to comment a bit on them. First, Antonio does not pay the loan to Shylock, supposedly because he has lost everything, but before he had told to Salario and Salarino that not all his possessions were at risk. Nevertheless, he sends a letter to Bassanio, who is in Belmont with Portia, so he separates Bassanio from her, at least asking him to go to see him. In a way Bassanio is linked to Antonio by gratitude. On the other hand, others think that this is a doomed loved declaration from Antonio. Secondly, the young law clerk asks for Bassanio’s ring, which Portia made Bassanio promise never to part, he does not want to give it. Although Antonio knows this, he convinces Bassanio to give him the ring, knowing that he will have problems with Portia; this is another way to keep Bassanio next to him. For some critics Antonio is very possessive with Bassanio mainly because of this.

In my opinion, Antonio (MV) lends money free of interest, he is risking his life for friendship and love to Bassanio, he wants his happiness despite, at the end, he will stay alone with the money and dumb. We can see a similar structure in the other Antonio (TN), since he takes care and protects Sebastian, he is very fond of him. When they are in Illyria he gives money to Sebastian too. But, in this case, most experts agree that this is because of the attraction that Antonio feels for him.

Coming back to the Merchant of Venice, we could go on saying that if Antonio does not return the money Sylock has lend him, Shylock will cut off a pound of flesh; at the same time some experts relate this with Bassanio, i.e, they think that Bassanio has claimed this loan of flesh from Antonio’s heart since Bassanio has chosen Portia. Others think that this loan symbolizes a union that refers to the rites of marriage, where the couple becomes one flesh.

On the other hand, there are some critics who think the relationship of Bassanio towards Antonio is not based on friendship; since Bassanio seems to be more self-interested, he is interested in Antonio’s money. So, his relationship with Antonio is a matter of business not of love, that is why it is said that Bassanio takes advantage of Antonio.

Both Antonio have a relationship of friendship that involves danger, in the Merchant of Venice Antonio pawns himself and in Twelfth Night Antonio goes with Sebastian to Illyria, a place which is dangerous for him:

I have many enemies in Orsino’s court,

Else would I very shortly see thee there.

But come what may, I do adore thee so

That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.

(TN Act II.i, 33-36)

At the end of both plays, none of the Antonio can not have the objects of their desire, mainly because of social norms, since sexual attraction between people of the same gender was unacceptable.

We have learned that a recurrent pattern of Shakespearean comedy is that at the end the couples reach marriage after overcoming several obstacles. But as we can see in this case not all the couples reach their complete love.

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Introduction Conclusion Bibliography Papers