At the beginning of the play, Bassanio approaches Antonio and asks him to fund his trip to Belmont. Bassanio explains to Antonio that he has wasted most of his money living beyond his means but has a plan to become rich. Bassanio tells Antonio that there is a wealthy unmarried woman named Portia living in Belmont who has inherited a large sum of money from her deceased father. Bassanio plans on traveling to Belmont and winning her hand in marriage. When Bassanio asks Antonio to fund his trip, Antonio explains to his friend that all of his money is tied up in his investments, which include the cargo on his merchant ships that are currently out at sea. In order for Antonio to get the money to fund Bassanio's trip to Belmont, he makes a deal with the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who loans him three thousand ducats. As part of their deal, Antonio agrees that if he forfeits on the loan, he will give Shylock a pound of his flesh.
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