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He could be played that way. You must understand that in cultures where homosexuality is severely repressed, men often form strong affectionate bonds for each other which stop short of a sexual relationship, because they can display affection without it being assumed that their affection has a sexual subtext. This was the case in Shakespeare's day: you can see it in operation in the ending of The Two Gentlemen of Verona which to modern eyes seems implausible.
In Merchant, Antonio does seem to be extremely affectionate towards Bassanio. His melancholy when the play starts ("In sooth I know not why I am so sad") could be connected with his sexual attraction for Bassanio, who does not reciprocate. He also presses Bassanio to give away his wedding ring, which of course was calculated to make his wife angry, and which might have caused a rift between them, sending Bassanio back to the company of Antonio. Of course when he finds that his life has been saved by Portia, he has to accept it with good grace.
It's a plausible scenario. But Antonio plays just as plausibly as an extremely affectionate friend without any sexual overtones at all.
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Character sketch of Antonio in Merchant Of Venice?
1.Merchant of Venice 2.Antonio 3.Bassanio
Who was Antonio's friend in The Merchant of Venice?
Bassanio
In The Merchant of Venice who is the real hero Antonio or Bassanio?
Antonio. because withiut Antonio nothing would be possible.
Who is the merchant of Venice?
Although Shylock is the best-known character from the play, Shylock is not a merchant. He is a usurer-which is the only job Jews were allowed to have in Venice back then. A usurer is a person who lends money and makes money from it by charging interest. The merchant in The Merchant of Venice is Antonio. A merchant sells and trades.
What type of play is The Merchant of Venice?
The Merchant of Venice was written by William Shakespeare. It is considered a comedy. The main character is Antonio, the merchant.
Who is Antonio and who are the friends he is conversing with?
Antonio is the merchant of Venice.salarino and salanio are the friend who was conversing with Antonio.
Character sketch of Antonio in Merchant Of Venice?
1.Merchant of Venice 2.Antonio 3.Bassanio
What is The Merchant of Venice's name?
Antonio.
What is Antonio's occupation?
Antonio Banderas is a/an Actor, director, producer, singer
How to Compare and contrast antino and shylock in merchant of Venice?
Shylock and Antonio are both businessmen, but Shylock is a moneylender (banker) and Antonio is a merchant (trader).
Name of Shakespeare's merchant of Venice?
Antonio.
Who was Antonio's friend in The Merchant of Venice?
Bassanio
Who is Antonio's friend in Merchant of Venice?
bassano
You were born in Venice and your father was a merchant?
Jessica, daughter of Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice'. Except that Shylock was not a merchant; he was a moneylender. Antonio was the merchant, and he had no children.
In The Merchant of Venice who is the real hero Antonio or Bassanio?
Antonio. because withiut Antonio nothing would be possible.
Who is the merchant of Venice?
Although Shylock is the best-known character from the play, Shylock is not a merchant. He is a usurer-which is the only job Jews were allowed to have in Venice back then. A usurer is a person who lends money and makes money from it by charging interest. The merchant in The Merchant of Venice is Antonio. A merchant sells and trades.
Who is merchant of Venice?
The title character is usually understood to be the Loan-Shark Shylock, who is obviously a Jewish businessman. However, it actually refers to Antonio who borrows money from him. The "Merchant of Venice" is a play written by William Shakespeare in sometime in the 1590s. The story involves a merchant in Venice named Antonio, who borrows money from a Jewish money-lender named Shylock. Shylock wants revenge against Antonio because Antonio had insulted Shylock and spat on him for being Jewish, so he gets Antonio to agree that if the money was not repaid in time, Shylock would be allowed to take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Antonio needed the money badly enough that he agreed to the condition, which he did not believe would be a problem. When Antonio could not repay the money as agreed, Shylock insisted on taking his pound of flesh. A woman lawyer, Portia, defended Antonio before the ruler of Venice, who after hearing both sides ruled that.......(If you want to know the outcome, you'll have to read the play. Believe me, it is worth it.)
