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Monday 19 December 2022

Character Sketch of Antonio in Merchant of Venice

Character Sketch of Antonio in Merchant of Venice: Antonio is the titular hero of William Shakespeare's play "Merchant of Venice" in which he is the source and Centre of the play's main action. Though Antonio is not the main character of the comedy, the main plot revolves around his escape from the Jew's clutches and the impending danger.

Character Sketch of Antonio in Merchant of Venice

CHARACTER SKETCH - ANTONIO

Shylock gathers his forces for the battle of the bond story against Antonio. Antonio faces peril as a result of his generosity.


Certain flaws in Antonio's character caused some critics to call the play's title into question. His passivity, lack of self-assertion and initiative, indifference and pessimism, force of character, and calm resignation all contribute to his weakness.


If we define hero as the most interesting person dominating the entire action in the play, it is undeniably Shylock. "Jew of Venice" should have been the title of the play.


Shylock is a towering figure who dominates the entire action; Antonio is a pygmy. Despite his commanding personality, Shylock remains the play's antagonist because he is not a perfect and good man.


If the Jew is the more important individual, the merchant Antonio is more powerful than Shylock without charging interest. The Merchant of Venice is a comedy that concludes with Antonio's reunion with his friend. The central theme of this romantic drama is Antonio's comedy.


Antonio's character is defined by his melancholy, which he carries with him throughout the play. Despite his friend's efforts to persuade him otherwise, Antonio is a dogmatic pessimist. He sees the world as a stage on which men and women must perform their roles, and his own is a tragic one.


Under the stress of this melancholy, Antonio is prone to acting strangely. His demeanor or behaviour can be quite inconsistent at times. He authorizes the straightforward and easygoing.


Bassanio borrows money from anyone in his name. We must attribute his unprofessional behaviour in not keeping any money for an emergency to his passivity of nature. He is more concerned with Bassanio's happiness than with his own life.


Antonio's option is to remain silent until it is too late for Bassanio to help him. When Shylock refuses to respond to Portia's plea for mercy during the trial scene, Antonio is satisfied that Bassanio will survive to write an epitaph after his death.


Antonio is a generous friend who is always willing to help his friend through his intervention. He has rescued many people from Shylock's clutches. His charitable nature compelled him to lend money for free and fight against usury.


As a result of his treatment of Shylock, the only flaw we see in him is his treatment of Shylock. However, this can be explained by the general attitude of Christians toward Jews during the Middle Ages.


However, Antonio's treatment of Shylock is so ungenerous that nemesis quickly overtakes him and the wheel of justice completes a full circle, when Antonio's life is completely at the mercy of Shylock.


Despite these limitations, Antonio has many virtues for which he is justly admired by everyone except Shylock. He is the royal merchant dedicated to commercial enterprise, but he is motivated by an altruistic spirit.


Antonio is regarded as an important man, the first citizen of Venice, because of his good qualities such as kindness, generosity, and thoughtful consideration for others, but his friendship and love for Bassanio are the most appealing aspects of his character. He only cares about the world for Bassanio, and he is always available to him.


Shakespeare portrayed Antonio as the stereotypical martyr to generous friendship. Such self-sacrifice nobility is uncommon in the commercial world, which is usually associated with hedonistic materialism and selfishness.

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