
What is the relationship between Antonio and Shylock?
Antonio lends money because he genuinely wants to help people, and not because he wants to make huge profits from lending. Shylock, on the other hand, is a cunning merchant who lends money and extracts a huge amount of interest on the loan, and he can go to any extent to recover his money. In the play, both the characters suffer losses.
What is the relationship between Bassiano and Shylock?
Shylock lends money almost maliciously; he seeks to have people (at least Antonio) at his mercy. Bassiano asks for money due to friendship, and Antonio stands for it. They have, therefore, different motives in all of this. Because Shylock is a Jew and lends money charging interest, Antonio feels morally superior towards him.
How does Shakespeare compare and contrast the characters of Antonio and Shylock?
How does Shakespeare compare and contrast the characters of Antonio and Shylock in the trial scene? Shakespeare portrays the characters Shylock and Antonio in the trial scene to be victims of the trial scene. In my opinion, Shylock is the main victim as he is discriminated for following a different religion to everyone else in the court.
What does it mean that Shylock is a Jew?
Being a Jew meant that the other people in the court were racist against Shylock meaning that they treated him unfairly in comparison to Antonio; who was helped in every way so that he could win the trial and Shylock would not get his pound of flesh.

What is similar between Antonio and Shylock?
One similarity they have is that they both hate each other and each others cultures. Also, Antonio and Shylock are both connected in the same bond which also has Bassanio in it. This bond is where Bassanio borrows money from a money lender, Shylock, but where he cannot pay Antonio jumps in.
In what ways are Antonio and Shylock different and similar cite situations?
Antonio lends money not for gaining huge profits rather help whereas Shylock is a cunning Jew who lends money and extracts a huge amount of interests from it. He can move to any extent to take his interest out from the people. In the play, they both get apart from the thing to which they are most attached to.
What are the similarities between the characters of Antonio and Portia?
Both Portia and Antonio display their loyalty towards Bassanio, as his wife and dearest friend respectively. Both are selfless and use the money for the betterment of others rather than their selfish needs. Both display their love for Bassanio.
What are the similarities and differences between Antonio's melancholy and that of Portia?
Answer: The difference lies in the fact that Antonio cannot possibly have a solution for his sadness since he does not know what causes it, while Portia, to a certain extent, has hope for a solution. She dreams of Bassanio choosing the right casket.
What is the conflict between Shylock and Antonio?
Shylock reveals that Antonio has constantly mistreated him, disrespected him, called him a “misbeliever, cut-throat dog,” and even spat upon his “Jewish gabardine.” This is where Shakespeare's Jewish character begins to diverge from the Jewish stereotypes of his time.
Is Antonio or Shylock The Merchant of Venice?
Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio.
What is the difference between Shylock and Antonio?
Antonio lends money because he genuinely wants to help people, and not because he wants to make huge profits from lending. Shylock, on the other hand, is a cunning merchant who lends money and extracts a huge amount of interest on the loan, and he can go to any extent to recover his money.
Is Shylock a villain or a victim?
He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions.
What similarities can you see between Antonio and Portia as they are first introduced to us?
There are certain similarities in their melancholy.Portia and Antonio both share their sadness with those close to them. ... Both the characters are good in terms of virtue or morality and they themselves are not responsible for their melancholy. ... Both are disturbed by their melancholy and wish to come out of this.
Why was Antonio sad in the play Merchant of Venice?
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.
What is the character sketch of Antonio?
Antonio is a kind-hearted man who lends money to needy people without charging any interest from them. In this respect he offers a striking contrast to Shylock who is a usurer. (A usurer is a money lender who charges excessive rates of interest on the loans which he gives).
Why was Antonio in melancholy mood?
as antonio was melancholic by nature there may be many reasons as he fears losing bassanio to portia . He also had a foreboding of some approaching disaster. Je may also wants to be seen as a wise man in a state of melancholy.
What is the difference between Antonio and Bassanio character?
Antonio is weak hearted. At the expiry of bond he goes to Shylock and begs him of mercy. Due to this weakness he is called a Passive hero. Bassanio is extravagant and fortune hunter.
Why did Shylock and Antonio hate each other?
Shylock explains his enmity for Antonio. He has a bias against Antonio as a Christian and hates him even more for Antonio's practice of lending money without interest, undermining Shylock's usury business. Shylock wants revenge for years of Antonio's mistreatment.
What was the bond between Shylock and Antonio Brainly?
Answer: The details of the bond between Antonio and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice state that Antonio must forfeit one pound of flesh to be cut off of any part of his body if he does not repay the full amount of the loan by a specific date, which is precisely three months from the time he signs the bond.
Did Shylock like the way Antonio used to treat him?
As he calculates the interest on Bassanio's loan, Shylock remembers the many times that Antonio has cursed him, calling him a “misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / And spit upon [his] Jewish gaberdine” (I. iii. 107 – 108 ).
What does Shylock do when he lends money to Antonio?
Shylock’s terms of lending can also be very cruel as can be seen from the condition he puts forth when he lends money to Antonio – that he will extract a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body if he fails to return his money within the stipulated time.
Who is Shylock in the play?
Shylock, on the other hand, is a cunning merchant who lends money and extracts a huge amount of interest on the loan, and he can go to any extent to recover his money. In the play, both the characters suffer losses.
Why does Antonio lend money?
Antonio lends money because he genuinely wants to help people, and not because he wants to make huge profits from lending. Shylock, on the other hand, is a cunning merchant who lends money and extracts a huge amount of interest on the loan, and he can go to any extent to recover his money.
Who is Antonio's friend in Belmont?
However, for Antonio, it is the relation of friendship with his dear friend Bassanio that holds the greatest value. As a loyal and generous friend, Antonio funds Bassanio’s trip to Belmont; he is willing to use his wealth and power to help his friend so that he could marry Portia, a wealthy heiress. Despite his own ships and finances stuck in the sea, Antonio is worried more for Bassanio and wants to help him gain his love, even if it means approaching his adversary Shylock for a loan.
Who is the villain in Merchant of Venice?
Differences in the character traits of Antonio and Shylock; beliefs and priorities make Shylock the villain in The Merchant of Venice. Antonio and Shylock are the two main protagonists in William Shakespeare’s play “Merchant of Venice.”. Both of them are merchants who lend money and are popular figures in the city of Venice.
Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Shylock and Antonio resent and dislike one another. Firstly, Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian; secondly, because Antonio is a Christian and therefore not allowed to charge interest, Antonio undercuts Shylock’s business by lending money without charging interest. The fact that Shylock does loan money and charges interest is another reason for Antonio not to like him. As a businessman, Antonio must resent Shylock's ability to earn extra money by charging interest.#N#We know that Shylock drops this false front when alone, and that Antonio drops it when with Bassiano and Gratiano. When Antonio is with Bassiano, we see different motives for investment. Shylock lends money almost maliciously; he seeks to have people (at least Antonio) at his mercy. Bassiano asks for money due to friendship, and Antonio stands for it. They have, therefore, different motives in all of this.#N#Because Shylock is a Jew and lends money charging interest, Antonio feels morally superior towards him. He uses any opportunity to show his scorn and publicly humiliate Shylock. This leads to Shylock resenting and hating Antonio even more.#N#Antonio for example has publicly spit on Shylock. When Shylock sees an opportunity to take revenge on Antonio he takes it. The both engage in trying to annoy the other. For example, to close the deal with Shylock, Antonio invites him dinner. Shylock refuses with the reason that he is Jewish and the food would not be kosher (Jews don't eat pork) however, it is seen as a social slight to not even come and be present.#N#The relationship between Antonio and Shylock stretches beyond Act I, but if we limit ourselves to that act, we see the following: Antonio needs Shylock, and, to a lesser degree, Shylock needs Antonio. There is therefore some degree of mutuality. They are also similar in that Antonio makes a point of saying he has not put all of his investments aboard one boat, but has spread the risk. Likewise, Shylock loans to many people. In these areas they are similar.#N#However, they are also similar in their dislike for one another, which is based in part on their religions, or at least, on the prejudices their time educates into them regarding their religions. Both also put on something of a false front when dealing with one another.
What does Antonio do when Shylock sees an opportunity to take revenge on him?
Antonio for example has publicly spit on Shylock. When Shylock sees an opportunity to take revenge on Antonio he takes it. The both engage in trying to annoy the other. For example, to close the deal with Shylock, Antonio invites him dinner. Shylock refuses with the reason that he is Jewish and the food would not be kosher (Jews don't eat pork) however, it is seen as a social slight to not even come and be present.
Does Antonio need Shylock?
Antonio needs Shylock, and, to a lesser degree, Shylock needs Antonio. There is therefore some degree of mutuality. They are also similar in that Antonio makes a point of saying he has not put all of his investments aboard one boat, but has spread the risk. Likewise, Shylock loans to many people. In these areas they are similar.
How is Shylock different from Antonio?
Shylock is very different to Antonio and Bassanio as they care about each other through love and friendship. In lines 260 – 277 Antonio says goodbye to Bassanio his dear friend; Shakespeare uses language to prove Antonio and Bassanio’s friendship. ‘Give me your hand, Bassanio.
Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Firstly, Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian; secondly, because Antonio is a Christian and therefore not allowed to charge interest, Antonio undercuts Shylock’s business by lending money without charging interest. The fact that Shylock does loan money and charges interest is another reason for Antonio not to like him.
Why is Antonio victimised by Shylock?
Too often is Antonio victimised by Shylock because Shylock feels he has a hold over Antonio because of the bond he agreed to. In line 139 Shakespeare makes the audience feel sorry for Antonio by making the other characters in ...
What does Shakespeare say about Shylock?
In lines 128 – 138 Shakespeare uses harsh language to depict Gratiano to have a monumental hatred over Shylock. Line 128 ‘governed a wolf, who – hanged for human slaughter’, Shakespeare makes the audience realise that Gratiano sees Shylock as no more than a vile wolf who should be hanged for the bond he has over Antonio.
Why does Shakespeare use the words "tainted, drops earliest and weakest"?
Shakespeare uses words like ‘tainted, drops earliest and weakest’ to make the audience feel sorry for Antonio because there is nothing a weak Christian could do in his situation.
What does Shakespeare mean by "meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit"?
On the other hand Antonio does not fight for his case as hard as Shylock does. In lines 114 – 118 Shakespeare writes in such a way that the audience thinks that Antonio has given up. ‘Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit’ this means that Antonio is prepared for death and that he calls himself the weakest of all Christians.
What line does Shakespeare use to compare Christians to Shylock?
Shakespeare uses comparison between Christians and Shylock as a way of convincing the duke. In line 89 – 103 Shylock talks about the slaves that the duke and many other Christians have. ‘You have among you many a purchased slaves’ is a line Shakespeare uses when Shylock is talking. 1 page, 387 words.
What is the relationship between Antonio and Shylock?
The relationship between Antonio and Shylock stretches beyond Act I, but if we limit ourselves to that act, we see the following: Antonio needs Shylock, and, to a lesser degree, Shylock needs Antonio. There is therefore some degree of mutuality. They are also similar in that Antonio makes a point of saying he has not put all of his investments aboard one boat, but has spread the risk. Likewise, Shylock loans to many people. In these areas they are similar.
Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Shylock and Antonio resent and dislike one another. Firstly, Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian; secondly, because Antonio is a Christian and therefore not allowed to charge interest, Antonio undercuts Shylock’s business by lending money without char ging interest. The fact that Shylock does loan money and charges interest is another reason for Antonio not to like him. As a businessman, Antonio must resent Shylock’s ability to earn extra money by charging interest.
What does Antonio do when Shylock sees an opportunity to take revenge on him?
Antonio for example has publicly spit on Shylock. When Shylock sees an opportunity to take revenge on Antonio he takes it. The both engage in trying to annoy the other. For example, to close the deal with Shylock, Antonio invites him dinner. Shylock refuses with the reason that he is Jewish and the food would not be kosher (Jews don’t eat pork) however, it is seen as a social slight to not even come and be present.
