In shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice"

Why is Antonio's position on lending money different from that of Shylock?

Shylock and Antonio have a formal business loan, whereas the agreement between Antonio and Bassanio is informal and between friends.

Explanation:

Shylock's loan to Antonio has to be paid back because it is a formal loan that was made as part of an agreement between the Merchant of Venice and Shylock. The loan that Antonio gave to Bassanio is different because it is an informal agreement between friends. There is no official pressure for Bassanio to pay Antonio back. However, Antonio takes on a haughty attitude toward Shylock, and even spit on him and kicked him. There is a lot of contradiction in how Antonio the Christian and Shylock the Jew and villain are portrayed. Also, the Christian characters in the play only relate to Shylock when it has to do with finances and the law, he is not a friend and not a part of their network.