Antonio, a Merchant of Venice, talks of his sadness with his friends Salerio and Solanio, who believe that his heavy investments at sea must cause him worry. Answer: Antonio’s friends find him in a sad mood. How Shylock is Presented in The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, one of his romantic comedies, was written in 1596. In this scene Bassanio and Antonio ask Shylock for a loan so that Bassanio will have enough money to go to Belmont and woo Portia. "As the play opens, [Antonio] is marked as a man of complex feeling, not only sad but worried over 'What stuff [his sadness is] made of" and how it affects his ability to 'know' himself" (Patterson 20). and Antonio to represent these key ideas. The universal theme of friendship is presented through Bassanio and Antonio. How is Antonio presented in The Merchant of Venice? Fare ye well: / We leave you now with better company" (i. i. Not many ordinary people had ever encountered a Jew and when playwrights put Jewish characters on the stage they presented them as villains. Disguised as a lawyer, Portia is able to free Antonio from his contractual obligations with Shylock. the student is presented with and discovers essential facts, elements, and features of the play. Cinderella you have the evil stepmother, in Harry Potter you have Lord They were outcasts and suffered extreme discrimination. Voldermort, and in the Merchant of Venice you have Shylock. The building in which Anti-Semitism is the term used to describe To regain his fortune, he is determined to marry Portia, a wealthy, intelligent heiress of Belmont.In order to ask for her hand in marriage, Bassanio and his best friend, Antonio enter into an agreement with the usurer Shylock. It depends on his portrayal as to how much an audience has sympathy for his position and character as to how … He is a rich man, and a comfortable man, and a popular man, but still he suffers from an inner sadness. The play is a … In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio shows the challenge in his line, “I have much ado to know myself.” The audience should follow the question and try to learn about each character through it. The depression of Antonio at the beginning, for which he can give no explanation, is much like Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. Here Shylock has the legal right to remove a pound of flesh from Antonio, with whom he made a bond. All rights reserved. Despite her willingness to behave like a Christian, Jessica does not seem as delighted as it expected in her final scene with Lorenzo in which she finds herself alienated from the rest of the Christians. played out against each other throughout the play. He emerges in Act I, scene i as a hopeless depressive, someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy and who, throughout the course of the play, devolves into a self-pitying lump, unable to muster the energy required to defend himself against execution. He is kind, generous, honest, and confident, and is loved and revered by all the Christians who know him, but not by the Jew Shylock. Asked by #379670 on 7/27/2014 12:17 AM Last updated by Anonymous P #601428 on 1/22/2017 4:41 PM … However, this acceptance will never occur. Home Merchant of Venice Q & A Why does Shylock hate Antonio? Scene 1 of the Merchant of Venice is important because it is the expository scene. This plot is probably the most intense story-line in this Antonio is presented in "The Merchant of Venice" as melancholy and highly affectionate and devoted to Bassanio. anti-semitic ideas, depicting Shylock, a Jew, Shakespeare’s Presentation of Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. On a street in Venice, the merchant Antonio tells his friends Solanio and Salerio that he feels "so sad" (1.1.1) but doesn't know why. distinction between the clothes of Shylock and the Venetians. He appears fair in his business dealings, ambitious and the perfect gentleman; the antithesis of Shylock and supposedly the admirable hero of the play. The Merchant of Venice Character Analysis – ICSE Class 10, 9 English. In sooth I know not why I am so sad. Shakespeare play. Ans. The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Previous Scene 1 Act 1, scene 1: Antonio accepts to be a guarantor of Bassanio A well-established merchant of Venice, Antonio, cannot find words to express how sad he feels to his friends. This is seen best in the courtroom scene. Shylock is hesitant about lending Bassanio the money. He is a leading citizen, commanding great respect. Word Count: 1020. The premise deals with the antagonistic relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lender and Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as generous as Shylock is greedy, particularly with his friend, Bassanio. When he is first introduced … Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Workbook Questions and Answers. Character Sketch of Antonio in Merchant of Venice – ICSE Class 10, 9 English. Get an answer for 'What is the reason for Antonio's sadness in Act 1, scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare? ' The sample paper on How Is Shylock Presented In The Merchant Of Venice familiarizes the reader with the topic-related facts, theories and approaches. . Antonio’s agreement to the ‘bond’ with Shylock may be a final attempt to keep Bassanio in his life, in the real world, which to him involves business rather than the fairytale land of Belmont; no such place could be further from Antonio’s reach – he “loves the world only for” Venice. Create your account. Prejudice is also a large theme used, which is tied in with the theme of money. Antonio, a Christian, seeks a loan from Shylock, a Jew, to allow his friend Bassanio to travel and marry a wealthy maiden. Learn more about the arc of character in The Merchant of Venice. Scene 1 of the Merchant of Venice is important because it is the expository scene. Basssanio arrives in the company of Gratiano and Lorenzo, and he (Bassanio) requests for some money from Antonio. Instances of reading and interpretation occur many times in The Merchant of Venice.An early scene in which Shylock and Antonio bicker over the meaning of Biblical scripture shows that the all-important distinction between Jews and Christians basically boils down to interpretive differences—different ways of reading and understanding a shared heritage of texts. Readers may note the irony of Shylock hating Antonio because of his Christianity, but seeking revenge because Antonio discriminates against his Judaism. Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is a masterpiece, a drama that proves the author’s prowess and art. Shylock deliberates over whether he will agree to lend Antonio the money or not, given how badly Antonio has treated him in the past. outsider. between groups of Christians who greatly outnumber the Jew. Our first clue to this is in the first scene when, in conversation with Antonio, Solanio says, "Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, / Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Antonio Temperamental Melancholy. Shakespeare has portrayed Antonio and Bassanio’s relationship in a beautiful manner. Merchant of Venice Why does Shylock hate Antonio? Who is the protagonist of The Merchant of... What does Belmont represent in The Merchant of... Who is Solanio in The Merchant of Venice? Shylock Question 1. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ was written by Shakespeare in 1596 and Shylock also hatches a plan to revenge the hatred of Antonio. Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, is a kind and generous friend to Bassanio and he lends money to Bassanio for the love of Portia. Unlike Antonio, Bassanio does not want to know who he is. Act 1 Scene 3 – Key Scene . discrimination towards Jews and Judaism. and find homework help for other The Merchant of Venice … Portia, the wealthy Belmont heiress, is likewise a depressed and unhappy character in the … appeals to both audiences of comedy and tragedy. Even though The Merchant of Venice is sad in many ways, it is categorized as a comedy due to its strong comic elements. involving all of Antonio's ships crashing; the money has failed to be But Antonio insists that he's confident his ships are safe. Those ships were referred as to the nobleman who tower above the smaller trading merchants, similarly large vessel ships would surpass the smaller merchant ship which would bow before them due to respect. Finding Emo. Shylock and Antonio's Bond. The portrayal of Shylock in act 1, scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice sets the stage for what’s to follow. plot. Services, The Merchant Of Venice: Summary, Analysis & Characters, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The play is best known not for the “merchant” Antonio, but for his rival Shylock, the tormenting and tormented Jewish moneylender. Antonio, though a main character in The Merchant of Venice remains a rather ambiguous figure. ACT I SCENE I. Venice. 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; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me That I have much ado to know myself. Subsequently, Christianity is presented as a path which would grant them both salvation and the acceptance of the citizens of Venice. His play, “The Merchant of Venice” touches upon various topics. Antonio is a rich Venetian merchant, Bassanio's BFF, Shylock's archenemy, and the guy who puts up a pound of flesh as collateral so Bassanio can borrow money in order to woo Portia in style. Finding Emo 1288 Words6 Pages. Although he has many friends, he still remains a solitary and somewhat melancholy figure. In this A Study of Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. A street. How Shylock is Presented in The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, one of his romantic comedies, was written in 1596. Does Antonio die in The Merchant of Venice? Antonio – a merchant of Venice; friend of Bassanio 2. .' Clearly, … Shylock deliberates over whether he will agree to lend Antonio the money or not, given how badly Antonio … The Story. Antonio is no different. Christians hated the Jews because they made money from usury; this was, The Presentation of Shylock and Antonio as Conflicting Opposites in The Merchant of Venice How does Shakespeare present Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice' in Act III scene I and elsewhere in the play. Still, it was grouped with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night as comedies when Shakespeare presented it in 1623. English Maths Physics Chemistry Biology. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Although the play’s title refers to him, Antonio is a rather lackluster character. Shakespeare personifies the juxtaposed themes of this play; justice Shylock charges interest to those who borrow money from him when they are in need. Unlike the other characters,... See full answer below. He is generous to a fault with his friends, especially Bassanio, which lends itself to speculation as to his sexuality. this scene is set should be lit by candle light creating a slightly If it weren't for friendship, then this issue would not have been raised, leaving no plot. Antonio is a rich Venetian merchant, Bassanio's BFF, Shylock's archenemy, and the guy who puts up a pound of flesh as collateral so Bassanio can borrow money in order to woo Portia in style. In this play, the main theme is money and this theme is portrayed throughout the Merchant of Venice, being presented in many different ways. . By akankshamadan01 In The Merchant of Venice. In Act 1, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, Antonio wonders why he's so depressed: 'In sooth, I know not why I am so sad: It wearies me; you say it wearies you. The Character of Antonio in Merchant of Venice. Shylock. But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn. When Antonio's ships are lost, Shylock demands the letter of his bond be honored, and the case goes to court because taking a pound of Antonio's flesh is tantamount to murder. Antonio personifies the Christian self-righteousness that plagues Shylock. He seems intent on playing the wounded victim as his part in the world “is a sad one”, yet in spite of this morbid self-indulgence the audience feel compassion for him because outwardly he seems to embody all the virtues of a Christian; he is kind and noble towards his friends and clever as he has not “trusted” all his “ventures” in “one bottom”. Shylock is a character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.. dark, gloomy atmosphere to give the audience a sense of mischief and The central characters in the drama are two friends Antonio and Bassanio pitted against a Jewish and cunning villain Shylock. Shylock wants the pound of flesh that is the forfeit of the bond concerning the money Antonio borrowed from him. scene, I see Shylock not as the comical buffoon or villain but as the Bassanio is a fictional character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.He is a Spendthrift who wasted all of his money in order to be seen as a respectable man. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. Antonio hates people of the Jewish faith and always speaks badly about Shylock’s merchant deals. Salerio proposes, with Solanio's agreement, that Antonio must be worried about his ships at sea. Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, is a kind and generous friend to Bassanio and he lends money to Bassanio for the love of Portia. wrong doing on Shylock's part. Once Antonio is alone with Bassanio, the conversation becomes more intimate, and Antonio offers an indebted Bassanio "My, Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Setting provides a unique opportunity, if chosen astutely, for the playwright to communicate narrative, and shape character, without having to explicitly or linguistically express it.