What offer did Bassanio make to Shylock?

Short Answer: Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats to save Antonio's life.
In act 1, scene 3, Bassanio strikes a deal with Shylock by telling him that Antonio will guarantee payment in three months for a loan of three thousand ducats. Shylock agrees to loan the three thousand ducats to Bassanio, under the condition that Antonio must give a pound of his flesh in return if he forfeits the bond. Unfortunately, Antonio's merchant ships and investments are lost at sea, and he forfeits his bond, which gives Shylock the opportunity to finally exact his revenge by taking a pound of Antonio's flesh. After Bassanio receives the tragic news shortly after marrying Portia, Portia tells her husband that she would pay upwards of twelve thousand dollars to save a friend. She offers to give him enough gold to pay back the loan twenty times. In act 4, scene 1, Antonio stands before the Duke, and Shylock demands his bond. Bassanio then makes Shylock an offer by saying, "For thy three thousand ducats here is six" (Shakespeare, 4.1.85). Sadly, Shylock declines Bassanio's offer by saying that he would not accept his offer of six thousand ducats if it was six times higher.


The sum of money which is owed to Shylock is three thousand ducats. Bassanio, in response to Portia's suggestion when she hears of the situation he is in, offers to pay Shylock six thousand ducats in place of the three his is owed, if only he will spare Antonio. However, Shylock is not swayed by this offer, generous though it is. Instead, he says that he will "have my bond" and argues that he is doing nothing wrong. The pound of flesh which he plans to cut from Antonio "is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it." According to the agreement that has been made between the men, Shylock argues he is entitled to take his pound of flesh, legally, and would rather have that than the huge amount of money Bassanio offers, as the question is not really about money for Shylock.

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