The Bond story or the story of Antonio’* borrowing money from Shylock is the main story of the play “The Merchant of Venice’. Bassanjo is the close friend of Antonio. He wants to go to Belmont to win the hand of rich and most beautiful lady Portia in marriage. But he has no money. So he requests Antonio to give him three thousand ducats on loan. But Antonio also has no ready cash at the moment. So Antonio authorises Bassanio to borrow money on his credit from any quarter at any rate of interest.
Bassanio goes to Shylock who at once agrees but on a condition that he will have the right to take a pound of flesh from near Antonio’* heart if the money is not returned with in three months. Shylock makes this condition merely as a joke. Although Bassanio feels apprehensive yet Antonio takes the matter laughingly because he is confident that his ships will return with in three months and he would be able to repay the loan without any penalty.
Thus the condition which was thought to be a joke, is turned into a legal bond. Antonio does not consider even for a moment the consequences of the bond if by chance his ships do not return or are delayed. The motto of Shylock behind this bond was to take revenge of the past insults made by Antonio. The suspicion came to be true and the ships of Antonio did not return in time.
