Because Antonio risks his own life to guarantee Bassanio's loan from Shylock, Bassanio is able to pursue a marriage with the wealthy heiress of his dreams, Portia. After Bassanio chooses the correct casket and wins the right to marry Portia, she offers to pay back Antonio's debt to Shylock in order to save his life. In addition to this financial offer, she dresses as a lawyer and appears at the trial in person to defend Antonio, which results not only in the sparing of his life and forgiveness of his monetary debt, but also in half of Shylock's immense fortune being awarded to Antonio. Perhaps out of gratitude to Antonio for aiding her suitor, or perhaps simply due to her love for Bassanio, Portia plays a key role in removing Antonio from the unpleasant terms of his debt to Shylock. Thus, Antonio immensely profits from the relationship between Bassanio and Portia.
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