The Merchant Of Venice – Antonio Essay, Research Paper

Antonio is a wealthy merchant in the city

of Venice. Although central to the play, Antonio is portrayed by Shakespeare

as an ‘outcast’. It seems that Antonio is chronically depressed and is

not involved in the social atmosphere that is thriving in Venice. -

“In sooth, I know not why I am so

sad: It wearies me; you say it wearies you; But how I caught it. Found

it, or came by it, What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to

learn:”1

Along with Shylock, both men seem bitter

and have difficulty in expressing their emotions. On many occasions friends,

such as Salerio and Bassanio have questioned his sadness, trying to find

an explanation for their great unhappiness with themselves and with the

world. -

Salerio: “But tell not me: I know

Antonio Is sad to think upon his merchandise.2 Antonio: “Believe me, no:

I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor

to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this present year:

Therefore, my merchandise makes me not sad.”3 Salanio: “Why, then are you

in love.”4 Antonio: “Fie, fie!”5

The mystery of Antonio’s sadness remains,

as he dismisses the prospect that his sadness is related to his ships or

a lost love. Uninterested in the ‘world’ of suitors and marriage, Antonio

is left without his lifelong companion, Bassanio after he travelled to

Belmont to woo Portia.

Early in the play another side of Antonio

is revealed. Antonio is displayed as a hard cruel man, although a Christian,

he displays hatred and contempt towards the Jewish race, usurers and especially

towards Shylock. After kicking and spitting upon Shylock, Antonio shows

no remorse or sympathy for the man he has abused. Antonio even goes to

the point of saying that he would once more spit upon him and kick him

like a stray dog. -

“I am as like to call thee so again,

To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money,

lend it not As to thy friends, for when did friendship take A breed for

barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who if he

break, thou may’st with better face Exact the penalty.”6

Many people would ask the question, why

would someone in Shylock’s position want to give anything to a person who

has treated them as badly as Antonio? However, under the interest free

bond that Shylock has created with Antonio lies a need for revenge so great

that Shylock will do anything to take the life of Antonio.

At the beginning of Act 3 the bad news

of Antonio’s ships, lost at sea is spreading around Venice. Jessica confirms

that Shylock will be maintaining the bond that was created now that Antonio

has no way of paying back the bond. -

“When I was with him, I have heard

him swear To tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have

Antonio’s flesh Than twenty times the value of the sum That he did owe

him; and I know, my lord, If law, authority, and power deny not, It will

go hard with poor Antonio.”7

With the realisation that Antonio’s death

is imminent, Antonio, like someone with a terminal illness gives up all

hope of survival. Most people would fight literally for their lives against

Shylock, but Antonio had progressed beyond sadness and had lost his will

to live. Antonio’s immediate acceptance of Shylock’s bizarre bond signals

the secret ‘death wish’ that Antonio holds very close to his heart. Antonio’s

sudden wish to die, brought about through great sadness and loneliness

is affecting Bassanio greatly, who takes responsibility for what has happened.

-

“Antonio, I am married to a wife

Which is dear to me as life itself; But life itself, my wife, and all the

world, Are not with me esteem’d above thy life: I would lose all, ay, sacrifice

them all, Here to this devil, to deliver you”8 A moment of comedy is brought

out after this speech through Portia (Bassanio’s wife), posing as

a Doctor of Laws. – “Your wife would give you little thanks of that, If

she were by to hear you make the offer.”9

During the courtroom scene Portia and

Nerissa undertake their daring plan to save Antonio. As Shylock is preparing

to cut Antonio’s heart from his body, a death which by this time Antonio

freely excepts Portia reminds Shylock of the intricacies of the bond he

made with Antonio. Shylock must cut exactly a pound of flesh from Antonio,

not an ounce less, not an ounce more. He also must not create one drop

of Christian blood. Shylock becomes very nervous and simply asks Antonio

for the money he owes him. Portia, the lawyer declines this offer and Shylock

attempts to flee the courtroom. Portia detains him and then reminds him

of another law. One must never conspire to kill another Venetian. Shylock

is a defeated man, his dreams of revenge shattered. Shylock is forced to

give Antonio one half of all his goods, which will be passed on to Lorenzo

at Shylock’s death and Shylock must leave everything he owns in his will

to Jessica and Lorenzo. The final condition was that Shylock becomes a

Christian.

These events gave Antonio a new view of

life. The final revelation in Antonio’s character is seen. From the ’suicidal’

man filled with sadness and sorrow Antonio is reformed into the successful

merchant he once was when his ships returned from sea laden with goods.

However, the only sadness for Antonio is that he has been deprived of the

chance to sacrifice himself as a gesture of his true nobility.

1 Merchant Of Venice. Act 1, Scene

1. Lines 1-5 – Antonio. 2 Merchant Of Venice. Act 1, Scene 1. Lines 39-40

- Salerio. 3 Merchant Of Venice. Act 1, Scene 1. Lines 41-45 – Antonio.

4 Merchant Of Venice. Act 1, Scene 1. Line 46 – Salanio. 5 Merchant Of

Venice. Act 1, Scene 1. Line 47 – Antonio. 6 Merchant Of Venice. Act 1,

Scene 3. Lines 126-133 – Antonio 7 Merchant Of Venice. Act 3, Scene 2.

Lines 123-189 – Jessica 8 Merchant Of Venice. Act 4, Scene 1. Lines 280-285

- Bassanio 9 Merchant Of Venice. Act 4, Scene 1. Lines 286-287 – Portia/Doctor

of Laws