Bassanio is a character from William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice. He is a young Venetian gentleman and a close friend of Antonio, the merchant. Bassanio is in love with Portia, a wealthy heiress, and seeks to win her hand in marriage. However, he lacks the funds to court her properly, which leads him to borrow money from Antonio. To secure the loan, Bassanio proposes a risky plan that involves using Antonio's credit to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. His character embodies themes of friendship, love, and the complexities of financial dealings in the pursuit of happiness.