While some critics have argued that it is unnatural that Antonio has an unhealthy obsession for Bassanio, I truly admire the way he treats his friend. Personally, I feel that their relationship is a touching example of a pure and selfless friendship.
However, no man is perfect. We see an uglier side pf him in act one, scene three, quite a contrast to my initial impression of Antonio. He is prejudiced and looks down on the Jews, who are mostly money-lenders. He regards charging high interest as exploiting the poor, and he is self-righteous in some sense. However, he fails to recognize his own prejudice by thinking that he, being an Italian is superior to the Jews.
We are able to see arrogance and his rather impersonal distaste turn into open expressions of insulting prejudiced in the way he talks to Shylock. “I am as like to call thee so again. / To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.” His latent racialism comes out into the open. Our impression of this unpleasant side of Antonio is reinforced by Shylock’s account of Antonio’s previous barbarous treatment of him. Antonio scolded and insulted Shylock in front of all the merchants in Rialto, called Shylock ‘misbeliever’, ‘cut-throat dog’ and even spit upon Shylock’s “Jewish gaberdine”.
Although Antonio -The Merchant of Venice- does not appear much in the play, he is certainly an important and prominent character in the play. He strongly portrayed the nobility of friendship as well as Christian’s prejudice against the Jews, two of the most important themes in the play.
Bassanio is a completely different character from Antonio. His opening lines portray him as a cheerful, fun-loving chap. He is very materialistic and as a result, is in great debts. He “disabled mine estate/By something showing a more swelling port”. He lives above his means but is frank and self-critical to admit that he is a spendthrift. As soon as he gets the money he needs, he busily organizes another expensive evening’s entertainment for himself and his friends! His extravagance is again shown when he spends a lot of money on his servants’ uniform. Bassanio rash character can be seen from the way he agrees to help (“You have obtained it”) immediately when Gratiano “have suit” to him, without knowing what is the favour. He is self-centered as well. Being such a good friend of Antonio, he fails to realize that Antonio “look not well”, whereas Gratiano managed to observe that.
However, to view him as a shallow, mercenary socialite is not only unfair but also inappropriate given both his role and the general atmosphere of the play. Bassanio has many positive qualities: in many respects he is a typical romantic hero who is chivalrous and gallant. Although part of Bassanio’s motive for wooing Portia is to pay off his debts, we cannot doubt the fact that Bassanio is romantic and affectionate towards Portia. Portia’s depth of feeling for and devotion to Bassanio also provide evidence of his worthiness to be her mate.
Antonio’s humble entry stands out from the Prince of Morocco and Prince of Arragon, who have followers behind them while they made their grand and pompous entry. After succeeding in choosing the right casket, his manner is modest and respectful. On top of that, there is no doubting the sincerity and intensity of his friendship for Antonio. Although he went to borrow money from Shylock, Antonio’s enemy, he will “rather dwell in my necessity” and was reluctant to let Antonio “seal unto this bond”, a death bond.
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender, traditional enemy with the Christians. He is persecuted by society in general because, as a Jew, he is the victim of popular Christian prejudice which scorns his religion and restricts his means of employment. He is one of a people who have suffered over the centuries. Shylock, a Jewish alien, living in the Ghetto, tolerated, needed for business by Christians who did not themselves want to practice usury, and yet abused for performing the very task for which he was needed. However, Shylock loses our sympathy when we see his avaricious, mercenary nature.
His servant, Launcelot, dislikes Shylock, even calling him a “very Jew”. A very Jew is a stingy, mean, unfeeling and avaricious person. He is miserly and does not treat Launcelot well and provide him with little food. From his willingness to sacrifice his daughter’s (Jessica) relationship for money, we can conclude that he worships money more than anything else. A ruthless and hard-hearted man, Shylock hates deeply and is unforgiving. He hates Antonio so much that “cursed be my tribe if I forgive him!” Therefore, we can see that prejudice is mutual—“I hate him for he is a Christian.”
Shylock’s devious, vengeful nature is best demonstrated in the way in which he cunningly entraps Antonio to ‘feed his revenge’. He likes the idea of “Antonio shall become bound—well”, and hypocritically, he told Antonio “I would be friends with you and have your love, of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me. This is kind I offer.” Antonio was tricked to sign the ill-considered bond as a result.
Generally, Shylock is a vindictive, wicked and evil man. He is so cruel that he wants Antonio “of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken”; he wants a person’s life. His hunger for Antonio’s flesh can again be shown in his speech after Antonio agreed to “seal unto this bond”—“Then meet me forthwith at the notary’s.” Shylock really wants to profit from Antonio death as he will be able to charge higher rates of interest when Antonio can no longer undercuts him.
In conclusion, Shylock is an “alien” in Christian society—a social outcast treated with scorn and devision, insulted for his meanness, cruelty and vindictiveness. This could explain his cynicism, spitefulness and obsession with money—he feels insecure, embattled and embittered. On top of that, Shylock is also vehemently anti-Christian. Hence, we see that prejudice breeds prejudice.
Generally, the three of them have very different characteristics but share one thing in common - prejudice. Both Antonio and Bassanio are loyal friends and Antonio “only loves the world for him” (Bassanio). On the other hand, essentially audience sympathy is turned away from Shylock by his hatred of Antonio (to the extent of murder) and his ruthless pursuit of profit, but his eloquent description of Antonio’s abusive language and behaviour redresses the balance a little in his favour. Nevertheless, “The Merchant of Venice” is an interesting play with a rich plot.