Antonio never had anything but contempt and hatred for Shylock. This did not change much when Antonio was thrown in jail at Shylock's behest.
Portia traps Shylock by cleverly interpreting the terms of the bond he established with Antonio. She argues that while Shylock is entitled to a pound of flesh, the contract does not grant him the right to shed any blood in the process. This interpretation forces Shylock into a position where he cannot claim his bond without breaking the law, effectively saving Antonio and turning the tables on Shylock.
Portia invokes the Venetian law which states that Shylock, as a foreigner, is not allowed to seek the life of a Venetian citizen. This law is crucial in determining the outcome of the trial, as it prevents Shylock from carrying out his bond with Antonio, which entitles him to a pound of flesh. By invoking this law, Portia effectively saves Antonio from the harsh penalty that Shylock seeks to impose.
Firstly, Shylock isn't actually the merchant, Antonio is. Antonio has a fleet of trade boats out at sea, trading around the world for the better part of the play. Does this answer your question? Hope this helps.
in the beginning of the case shylock wanted one pound of flesh from antonio's body .portia requested him to take thrice the sum of money antonia had taken from him.suddenly a idea struck portia's mind, she said that shylock can have pound of flesh but while doing this he should make sure that antonia doesnt shed a drop of blood and while cutting a pound of flesh it should be excactly one pound not more nor less or else all his good and property will be given to states treasury. this is how portia turned tables against shylock
Shylock highlights the hypocrisy of the Venetian court by drawing parallels between his mistreatment by Antonio and the broader societal discrimination faced by Jews. He argues that just as he is subjected to prejudice and derision, the Venetians, including Antonio, have historically mistreated him and his people. Shylock's insistence on seeking justice through a bond reflects his desire for equal treatment, challenging the moral integrity of a system that claims to uphold justice while perpetuating inequality. This comparison ultimately underscores the theme of vengeance versus mercy within the play.
Bassanio harbors a mix of disdain and apprehension towards Shylock. He views Shylock as a moneylender who embodies greed and avarice, which contrasts sharply with his own values of friendship and love. While he recognizes Shylock's business acumen, he also feels a sense of moral superiority over him, seeing Shylock's practices as unworthy. Ultimately, Bassanio's feelings are complex, shaped by both societal prejudices and his own experiences with Shylock's character.
Antonio and Bassanio's friendship is a very close one. Bassanio consider Antonio his best friend. I also think that Bassanio is also Antonio's best friend because Antonio lent money to Bassanio so he can pay his debts while living the high and fun life. Antonio even sacrifice his own life to Shylock so that Bassanio can have three thousands ducats to woo Portia, a rich heiress from Belmont. I think this part really says that Antonio does care about Bassanio and in a possible way he loves him like a brother. Antonio also Bassanio that all the money that he needed to pay Antonio that Bassanio did not need to pay him the money that he borrows a long time ago. Antonio is really a nice and kind friend and Bassanio is really lucky to have him. This part shows that Antonio is really kind and would sacrifice everything so his friend's happiness would be fulfilled. Bassanio on the other hand sometimes takes Antonio for granted. Bassanio even told Portia that Antonio is his best friend and he is the kindest and nicest man in Venice. Portia replied that she would like to meet him. But there is a scene where Bassanio wasn't gold - digger always that he also cares about Antonio too. Bassanio told Portia that he needed to save Antonio's life from the Jewish moneylender, Shylock. He said that he needed to save his friend's life first before marrying Portia. This part also shows that he is truthful to his friend. When Bassanio gave the ring, that Portia made him swear never to give it away, lose it or anything, to the lawyer who was actually Portia to reward the lawyer for helping to save Antonio's life. He was even willing to give the ring that his future wife gave it to him to show that he belongs to Portia and her wealth.Bassanio also felt worried when Portia told him that she had to sleep with the lawyer to get the ring back. This was the part that Bassanio showed that he was in love with Portia and not only with her wealth. But Portia eventually told Bassanio that she was the lawyer and Nerissa was the lawyer's clerk. Bassanio felt relieved and fooled by his wife. This part also shows that Portia's beauty also matches her brains. Bassanio also told the lawyer that he love Antonio more than his wife and the lawyer replied that you and your wife will argue if she were to hear this. This shows that Bassanio could not control his mouth and can not keep secrets. Antonio on the other hand also showed that he was easily gullible to think that Bassanio care for him but in fact Bassanio only wanted money. Although Antonio is kind, I also think he is too trustworthy. He trusts so must on his ship. He was very confident that his ships will return safely to land. But later rumors spread that Antonio's ship sank and it turned out to be true. I also thought that Antonio is a lonely man and have no self confident. But this part shows that he has a small spark of it in him. Antonio also told shylock that he was a dog, a non- believer, critic on his Jew clothes and more horrible things. This shows that Antonio can be a mean and unkind person to the Jews. I believe that through out the trial, Antonio and Bassanio characters have many sides. Bassanio turned out to be a nice man after all and Antonio can also be a horrible man after all. Their friendship had revealed some new characters about them.
Portia is clearly the heroine of The Merchant of Venice, since she takes action which foils Shylock's plan and saves Antonio's life, while being at the same time the object of Bassanio's adoration. But she is far from perfect: her comments about her suitors are mean and petty and occasionally racist. She does not content herself with foiling Shylock's plan; she has to destroy Shylock's life into the bargain. Her cruelty towards him goes far beyond what justice would require (he loses the money he loaned to Antonio because he insisted upon the unenforceable bond), far from showing him the mercy which she hypocritically praises then fails to practise. She intentionally pressures Bassanio into giving up his wedding ring and then criticises him for doing so, another example of her hypocrisy.
He wrote his memoir Mein kampf while he was in prison.
One would hope that Shakespere is petitioning for tolerance and equality in anti-semetic Elizabethan England in the play from which this quote is taken: The Merchant of Venice. However, Elizabethan England was not as anti-Semitic as all that, the quotation is wrong, and needs to be read in context. Shylock, in explaining why he is pursuing Antonio, says that Jews are just like Christians: "If you prick us, do we not bleed", he says. He is talking about Jews as a group, not just about himself. But the argument is working toward the statement, "and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" Far from a plea for tolerance, Shylock is making an argument for intolerance, since he says that if the Venetian Christians are intolerant (as they certainly are) then why shouldn't the Venetian Jews be just as intolerant?However, we must never imagine that Shakespeare meant a thing just because he has one of his characters say it. In the larger view, while we must condemn Shylock's disproportionate attempt at scapegoating Antonio for all the wrongs which have been done to him, it is easy to see how doing people wrong by persistent persecution could lead to such behaviour. While earlier generations of smug Christians claimed that Shylock showed no mercy while the Christians were merciful, we can readily see that the Christians in the play are far from merciful and give a very poor example for Shylock to follow, as the speech from which this quotation is taken shows.
i dont think so
brake out of prison and tell her