If I were Antonio.........

I would have lent money to Bassanio. This is because, it makes business sense to lend him and he was one of my christian friends. Although I might have a chance of losing my life, the chance is so small that it is negligible.

It makes business sense to lend money to Bassanio. This is because, when Bassanio said that when he shoots an arrow twice, the second one will most likely be able to help trace the path of the first arrow, and both arrows will be found. Also, I feel that the chances of this method being successful was high as all men that wanted to marry Portia came from a wealthy or glorious background, but Bassanio was different as he was just a normal person, and I believe that this was the difference that will allow him to choose the correct casket. As a businessman, I have learned to take calculated risk, and since taking this risk might bring me back all the money that I gave Bassanio, I felt that the risk was worth taking.

Bassanio was my friend, and most probably my best friend. Since he has been a good friend of mine, I see no reason in not helping him. I believe that only by lending him the money, I can be a true friend of him, as true friends help each other in times of need. Also, since he is my friend, I should help him in times of need as if I do not help him, I will be a stingy man which is a disgrace to me. Also, as both of us are christians, we should help each other even more as we are from the same religion and I believe that people of the same religion should be the best of friends,

helping each other whatever the circumstances.

Although I might have a chance of losing my life, I would still lend money to Bassanio as the risk was so small that it was negligible. This is due to the fact that I have many cargo ships out there in the ocean and some of them will reach back to Venice a month before the contract expires, carrying nine thousand ducats worth of goods, which is thrice the amount I needed to pay to Shylock. As the chances of my cargo being unable to reach here was so little, there was almost no risk involved in the contract. As a result, lending money to Bassanio causes me almost no harm at all.

In conclusion, I would lend money to Bassanio as it makes business sense to do so, he was one of my best christian friends and that the risk involved was negligible.