Term 3 Blog Prompt #7

Blog Prompt #7 (Expository)
Over the weekend, you did close reading and annotations of The Merchant of Venice, Act One, Scene 1. Pretend for a moment that you are Antonio. Based on Bassanio’s arguments, would you also have loaned him the money? Write in ABC/PEEL format.

I would still lend Bassanio the money required to woo and marry Portia. This is because Bassanio is Antonio's best friend, and that he is determined to pay back his debts. However, Bassanio has yet to repay Antonio the money he had owed him before. These are reasons why I would still lend Bassanio money.

Firstly, Bassanio is Antonio's best friend. This can be seen from Act One, Scene 1, Line 154-155. Antonio states "To wind about my love with circumstance,/And out of doubt you do me now more wrong". He states that Bassanio questioning Antonio's love to him, and whether he would lend him money was doing the most wrong to Antonio. He feels that to even doubt his love to Bassanio was wrong, and that he was most willing to lend him anything he required, stating that "My purse, my person, my extremest means/ Lie all unlocked to your occasions." This shows that Antonio took Bassanio as his best friend, and was willing to do anything for him.

Secondly, Antonio felt that Bassanio was determined to pay back his debts. In Act One, Scene 1, Lines 126-127, Bassanio states that he "now make moan to be abridged/ From such a noble rate". This shows how determine Bassanio is to clear his debt, as he is willing to cut down on his expensive lifestyle, in hope to settle and live a happy life in the future. With this determination, Antonio would be able to trust Bassanio with the money required for his occasion.

However, even though Bassanio is Antonio's best friend, and also very determined to repay his debts, he has still yet repaid Antonio of his previous debt. In Act One, Scene 1, Lines 146 and 147, Bassanio states that he "owes you [Antonio] much, and (like a wilful youth)/That which I owe is lost". Its shows the debt that Bassanio owes Antonio, and how he is unable to repay him back as he has lost all his money. However, even so, Bassanio had assured Antonio that he would be able to repay him, and due to their deep friendship, and Antonio's trust in him, Antonio would decide to still lend Bassanio the money required.

In conclusion, Antonio would still lend Bassanio the money. This is because Bassanio is Antonio's best friend, and that he was determined to repay his debt, even though he still owed Antonio money. However, the debt was nothing compared to their friendship, and thus, Antonio would definately lend him the money.