Antonio, an anti-Semite Christian, had previously treated Shylock appallingly by verbally abusing him and even spitting on him "you call me a disbeliever, cut-throat dog and spit upon my Jewish Gabardine. Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last" (I.iii.108). The contrasting treatment of Bassanio and Shylock by Antonio in the same scene helped the audience to see Antonio in his true colours. At the beginning of the play, Antonio is introduced to the audience as a melancholy, easy-going, gentle figure so the audience responds sympathetically towards him. However, as the play draws on, particularly in Act I Scene III our sympathies shift from him to Shylock and vice versa.
Antonio, in the past had also tried to put Shylock out of business by lending his customers money and subsequently preventing him from making profit from high interest rates. Shylock however, was now in the position to seek his revenge on Antonio so he promises to lend the money even though Antonio said that he would abuse Shylock in the future if he had the chance "I am as i like to call thee so again, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too" (I.iii.127-128). Instead of charging interest on the 3000 ducats as with his previous transactions, the bond that is made between Shylock and Antonio states that should Antonio fail to pay back the money by a certain date, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. This shows quite how vehement Shylock was in seeking revenge against Antonio because Shylock's money is as important to him as his own flesh and blood (Jessica). The 'pound of flesh' bond might have also made Shylock more notorious and therefore made his customers less likely to forfeit on the bond.
Antonio agrees to this bond out of love for Bassanio but many doubt that Bassanio would have sacrificed his life for Antonio in a similar situation. It is possible that Bassanio and Antonio could have been using each other. Bassanio could have used Antonio for his money and Antonio could have used Bassanio for love, respect and companionship. Antonio could also have been manipulating and controlling Bassanio. When Bassanio was talking to Antonio about Portia and the amount of money that he needed to borrow, he asked Antonio to think of it as an investment rather than an act of friendship. This suggests that Bassanio saw his friend's assistance simply as a business deal and nothing more.
In the trial scene, we would expect Shylock to be wearing traditional Jewish clothing like a Gabardine and Kippah and probably all in black. Antonio would probably be wearing smart but simple clothing like black trousers and a white shirt.
Shakespeare's lack of stage directions left interpretations down to the director or the audience's imagination. However the language used helped the audience to visualize the scene more fully. Shakespeare used repetition and metaphors to make the audience think about what was being said.
The language used during the trial scene really helped the audience to understand quite how biased venetian courts were. Antonio is constantly referred to as the "poor merchant" (IV.i.23) whereas Shylock is merely "The Jew" (IV.i.14). As soon as the trial commences, Shylock is made to stand before the court as if he is on trial whilst Antonio sits down, making the audience judge Shylock before Antonio. Throughout the trial scene, countless attempts to pierce Shylock's softer, more forgiving side were made to which he would reply "what, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?" (IV.i.69) meaning that he will not give Antonio the opportunity to mistreat him in the future.
During the trial scene, although our sympathies may lie with Antonio it is clear to all that even when faced with the threat of death, he was too stubborn and proud to apolygise. Shylock on the other hand had made a vow in a synagogue that he would seek his pound of flesh should Antonio forfeit the bond "An oath, an oath, i have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice." (IV.i.227-229). This gives us an insight into the stubborn and determined side to the nature of both characters. This dogged determination, especially on Shylock's part would help to draw the play to it's conclusion in the trial scene. In many ways, Antonio and Shylock are one and the same. Both of them are lonely and crave the respect they feel they deserve. Although Antonio is respected as a wealthy merchant, he has no real love in his life.
The props used during the trial scene, particularly the Knife and Scales helped to add to the suspense. To the viewing audience, the significance and symbolism of the knife and scales would have hung over the trial like a black cloud. Is the knife going to be used? Will Shylock really take a pound of Antonio's flesh? How is he going to stem the flow of blood, what is going to become of Antonio? These were all questions that would arise because of these seemingly insignificant props. The knife and scales also helped to add dramatic tension to the trial scene, because it would have left Antonio himself and subsequently the entire audience in suspense.
The idea of Mercy was addressed in more depth in the trial scene. To the audience watching at the time, the Duke would have been perceived to be merciful in his dealings with Shylock but we can now see that he was unfair and biased. Many Christians believe that for a person to go to heaven, they must be Christian, so ordering Shylock to convert from Judaism to Christianity and therefore saving him from eternal damnation must have seemed the most just and acceptable thing to do. This judgment although considered fair at the time, would horrify most people today as it clearly ignored Shylock's rights as an individual to choose and pursue a religion of his choice.
In Act III we saw a deeper, more intimate side to Shylock and began to realise that he is more the tragic offspring of the circumstances in which he lived rather than just a common, conniving usurer." I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction." (III.i.49–61)
The trial scene has also been linked in discussions with the Crucifixion of Jesus in the Bible. It could be interpreted that Antonio was Jesus who was willing to die for his friend and was going to be mercilessly killed at the hands of a Jew (Shylock).
Shakespeare's purpose in writing The Merchant of Venice was to expose the hypocrisy of Christianity with regards to anti-semitism and emotions such as hatred and revenge. Many of the Christian characters were quick to talk about love and mercy "The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath" (IV.i.184-186) but were hardly ever consistent in their practical application of these qualities. Shakespeare had to be tactful in his portrayal of the Christian characters because many, if not all of his audience at the time would have been Christian or Anti-Semites. It is debatable as to whether Shakespeare himself was an Anti-Semite due to his clichéd portrayal of Shylock as a vindictive, villainous Jew but his understanding of the circumstances in which Jews were living allows the audience to believe otherwise.
