Antonio is the protagonist and titular merchant in The Merchant of Venice.
Who is the protagonist and antagonist in Merchant of Venice?
If Shylock is the protagonist, Antonio has to be the antagonist. While his behaviors are certainly antagonizing to Shylock, they probably do not rise to the same level of hatred as Shylock’s actions.
Who is the antagonist of Merchant of Venice?
Shylock is clearly positioned as the play’s antagonist. At first, it may seem like he is helping Antonio and Bassanio achieve their goals by lending money.
Why is Portia the protagonist in Merchant of Venice?
Portia. Portia might be considered a protagonist insofar as she has a hold on the movement of the play. She’s the very reason Bassanio sets out in the first place, which gets Antonio wrapped up in the Shylock plot. … Much of the play is about Antonio’s debt with Shylock and his relationship with Bassanio.
Who is the major character in The Merchant of Venice?
Bassanio is a fictional character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
Why does Portia say your wife would give you little thanks for that to Bassanio?
Q. Why does Portia say “Your wife would give you little thanks for that” towards Bassanio? Bassanio said he dislikes his wife. Bassanio would give up his wife for Antonio.
How is Shylock the antagonist?
Shylock. Shylock is an obvious candidate to be the play’s antagonist, as he’s the dark character who is inarguably on the fringes of the society. He motivates the main conflict in the plot about the debt, and he is immovable on the point of wanting Antonio’s flesh rather than monetary compensation.
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.
Is Shylock a hero or villain?
Without that, the court case would not of happened and Portia, Bassanio, Antonio and all the others would not have been united as friends after the court scene. So Shylock is the hero and villain in the story and he is probably most described character as the whole story basically revolves around him.
Is Shylock a villain or 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 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 did Portia hate her father’s will?
Portia is upset that she cannot choose the man she will marry. Portia’s deceased father created a lottery, where potential suitors were given the opportunity to choose from one of three caskets with the hope of winning Portia’s hand in marriage.
What kind of woman is Portia?
Portia is a protagonist of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A rich, beautiful, intelligent heiress of Belmont, she is bound by the lottery set forth in her father’s will, which gives potential suitors the chance to choose among three caskets.
Who does Bassanio marry?
Bassanio wins the right to marry Portia because he solves the riddle and correctly chooses the right casket.
What is the main message of the 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 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.