Discuss the Ways in Which the Themes of Love and Hate are Explored and Presented in Act One in The Merchant of Venice

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Discuss the Ways in Which the Themes of Love and Hate are Explored and Presented in Act One in The Merchant of Venice

In a perfect world, hatred would not exist and love would be totally innocent. Unfortunately, in the world we live in today, this is never the case. In Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” love and hate are presented as main themes immediately from the beginning of act one.  

Love takes many forms in the play. There is love between close friends, romantic love that flourishes between characters and unconditional love within families. These are all explored in different ways in the first act.

In the first act we are introduced to a number of characters including Bassanio and Antonio. The whole opening act is based around the fact that Bassanio needs a loan to seduce Portia, a beautiful heiress. Even though Bassanio is already in debt to Antonio he still agrees to help him. Antonio says that Bassanio can apply for a loan using Antonio’s good name. This is an extremely selfless act, which shows that their friendship is strong and that they trust each other completely. Later on in act three when the terms of the loan are being discussed with Shylock, Antonio even agrees to the extreme terms of the loan agreement just so Bassanio can obtain his loan of 3000 ducats. Shylock’s hatred for Antonio (which will be discussed in the latter part of this essay) results in him tricking Antonio into an oath where upon the loan not being repaid, the penalty will be a pound of his flesh. This implies that Antonio is willing to give up his life for his friend to stand a chance with Portia.

Another possible explanation to Antonio’s behaviour is that he may be in love with Bassanio himself. This is never described directly in the play but a number of hints arise that leave this open as to a possibility. One of these is in the first act within the conversation between Antonio and his friends Solanio and Salerio.  Antonio announces that he is upset and denies the suggestion that it is due to the perils at sea that his ships carrying precious cargo may be facing. When Solanio suggests that he may be in love he does not deny it more than to say “fie fie”.  

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In most Shakespearean plays, the main characters end up paired off towards the end. However, Antonio is never romantically involved with a lover at any point in the play. The question arises that if Antonio is in love with Bassanio, why is he literally risking life and limb so that the latter can seduce someone else?

A main topic in the first act relates to the loan that Bassanio needs to seduce Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. He is infatuated with her and hopes to win her heart. However, Portia has already obtained many other wealthy suitors ...

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