about being able to fulfill the terms of the contract. The reader should also keep in mind that Antonio readily agrees to the terms because (1) he still suffers from melancholy and (2) he has a generous nature (he likes being able to help his friends whenever he can). Moreover, Antonio is glad to be able to get money from Shylock without paying him any interest. He feels that he is getting an extremely gooddeal.
Shylock continues to speak insincerely (beginning at line 156). He claims that a pound of Antonio’s flesh has no value to him and that he is acting purely out of friendship. But neither Antonio nor Bassanio is fooled into believing that Shylock is his friend. Bassanio recognizes that Shylock has “a villain’s mind” (175). Bassanio knows that he is evil, but Antonio reassures him that there is nothing to worryabout.