Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s comedy The Merchant of Venice.
Who borrowed money from Shylock?
Antonio borrows money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio, who needs the money to help him woo the lovely Portia.
Who is the rich merchant in the play The Merchant of Venice?
Antonio is the title character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. An influential, powerful, and wealthy nobleman of Venice, he is a middle-aged man and a merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied up in overseas shipments when the play begins.
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Antonio (The Merchant of Venice)
| Antonio | |
|---|---|
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
Who lends Bassanio money?
Merchant of Venice: In Venice, young Bassanio needs a loan of 3,000 so that he can properly woo a wealthy heiress of Venice named Portia. To get the money, Bassanio entreats his friend Antonio, a merchant.
What kind of lender is Shylock?
Shylock is a fictional character in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1600). A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play’s principal antagonist. His defeat and conversion to Christianity form the climax of the story.
Is Shylock a villain or a victim?
Shylock is a combination of both victim and villain in The Merchant of Venice. He is a victim of discrimination and mistreated by Antonio and his daughter, Jessica. Shylock’s greedy, vengeful nature is what makes him a villain, which helps drive the plot of the play.
Why did Shylock not temper justice with mercy?
Shylock realizes an opportunity to make a nobleman suffer as he feels he has and he refuses to bend and be merciful when society has not been merciful to him.
What is the main message of Merchant of Venice?
The main theme of The Merchant of Venice is the conflict between self interest and love. On the surface level, the major difference between Shylock the Jew and the Christian characters of the play is their level of compassion.
Why is Jessica ashamed Shylock’s daughter?
Jessica speaks to the audience after saying goodbye to Launcelot as she plans her escape. She reveals how she feels ashamed to be her father’s daughter because of his behavior. She also declares her love for Lorenzo and her desire to leave home and become a Christian to marry him.
Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Shylock hates Antonio because Antonio has the privilege of being a wealthy Venetian who charges no interest on his loans, and he also hates Antonio for being a Christian. … Antonio not only loans money interest-free to many, he has also covered the loans of Shylock’s victims without charging them interest to repay him.
Why can’t Antonio pay back his loan?
Why can’t Antonio pay back his loan? After a series of accidents, all of Antonio’s ships are reported as wrecked. … Therefore, Antonio does not have the money to pay back Shylock and is in danger of having to pay the penalty of a pound of his own flesh.
Why can’t Portia choose her own husband?
(Click the character infographic to download.) Not only is every potential suitor out to get his hands on Portia’s wealth, but Portia doesn’t even get to choose her husband, because her (dead) dad set up a little contest (“lottery”) involving three caskets to ensure his little princess married the “right” man. …
Why does Antonio not have any money in hand?
What he means is that all his money has been invested in transporting commodities via ships to various destinations, since he is a sea merchant. Antonio also declares that he does not have any products which he can sell to raise the money Bassanio so desperately needs.
Does Shylock convert to Christianity?
Portia orders Shylock to beg for the duke’s mercy. … Shylock claims that they may as well take his life, as it is worthless without his estate. Antonio offers to return his share of Shylock’s estate, on the condition that Shylock convert to Christianity and bequeath all his goods to Jessica and Lorenzo upon his death.
How does Shylock see himself?
Though the Christian characters of The Merchant of Venice may view Jews as evil, Shylock does not see himself in that way. His views of himself and others are rational, articulate, and consistent. … Shylock, on the other hand, is an outcast even before the play begins, vilified and spat upon by the Christian characters.
Which three types of casket Does Portia have?
The Three Caskets From The Merchant of Venice According to her father’s will, Portia is not allowed to pick her own husband. Instead, the suitors must pick from three caskets, gold, silver, or lead. The one who picks the casket with Portia’s portrait inside will be able to marry her.