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What is the reason does antonio give for being sad at the beginning of the play The Merchant of Venice?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
At the beginning of the play Antonio says "In sooth I know not why I am so sad" and Salarino and Salanio (you'd think Shakespeare could come up with more imaginative names for these characters) suggest that he's worried about his ships which are carrying trade goods to various ports around the world. When Antonio says that this is not the problem, Salarino suggests that he is in love, and Antonio pooh-poohs (well actually fie-fies, but the effect is the same) that idea also.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHe doesn't give a reason, because he doesn't know any. "In sooth I know not why I am so sad."
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How did portia save antonios life?
In "A Merchant of Venice," Portia dresses like and impersonates a lawyer to save Antonio's life. She warned Shylock that his pound of flesh does not consist of blood, and if he kills Antonio, all of his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state for him threatening the life of a Venetian citizen.
Why did Shakespeare set his plays in Italy?
History suggests that the Merchant of Venice was set in Venice probably because Venice was a very popular city at the time the play was made. It could also do with the fact that the words Merchant and Venice sound good together. When looking at Shakespeare's motives for setting the play in Venice, it may help to look at why 'Othello' was also set in Venice... You may notice in Merchant of Venice how Shakespeare shows Venice as a state divided against itself - for example Christians resent the practice of usury, despite the fact that it is essential to their booming economy. Antonio spits on Shylock one minute, yet is asking for his help the next - Christian society at the time is shown to be ignorant of it's foundations, to the point of resenting them, and is therefore shown to be unstable. Going back to the question - one reason the play could be set in Venice is so that Shakespeare could present his critical view of the Christian/Monarch situation in England at the time, without attracting censorship of his work by the English government. Venice may also have been used as it has an element of mystery about it - bear in mind that few had been to exotic places such as Venice at the time, so it would've added an additional layer of mystery to the play.
What are some prejudice in the Merchant of Venice?
People judge Shylock because he is a Jew. He cannot escape the harassment that he receives for being Jewish.Jessica is too nice to be a Jew, and therefore must convert to ChristianityThere is only a happy ending for the Christian characters
How bond story and the casket story are independent in merchant of Venice?
The link between the two stories arises as a result of the relationship that Bassanio has with characters in the two plot streams. The association is created when Bassanio, who is out of pocket, approaches his friend and confidante, Antonio, a wealthy Christian merchant, for financial assistance so that he may woo the beautiful Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. Bassanio wishes to stand an equal chance against a number of other suitors, who come from privileged backgrounds and the money will give him such an opportunity. Antonio does not have the ready cash that Bassanio needs but asks him to seek a loan in Venice by using his name as guarantee. He is a person of good standing and assures Bassanio that he will also seek a loan. Bassanio soon encounters Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, who is prepared to extend him a loan of 3 000 ducats should Antonio sign as surety to the bond. Antonio agrees to Shylock's harsh terms which state that the loan should be settled in three months without any interest charged. If he should forfeit, Antonio has to allow Shylock to cut out a pound of his flesh. Bassanio asks his friend not to agree to these terms but Antonio, confident that he will be able to settle the debt comfortably, signs the agreement. Bassanio takes the money and goes off to try his luck in winning Portia's hand in a lottery, in which a suitor should choose the right casket from three, that her deceased father had concocted. It is through these actions that an association between the two stories is created. It is important to note that Antonio and Shylock despise each other. Antonio believes that Shylock is committing a grave sin by lending out money and profiting from the interest he charges. Shylock hates Antonio for having severely criticized him openly and humiliating him by spitting on his gaberdine, kicking him and calling him a dog. He seeks revenge against the Christian. Bassanio is successful in choosing the right casket and wins Portia's hand. He does, however, receive an unsettling message from Antonio in which he states that he has been imprisoned for forfeiting on the bond. He had suffered a number of mishaps with his ships and could not settle the debt. The vengeful Shylock has been insistent that he should have his pound of flesh. Bassanio is utterly distraught. Portia notices his distress and after discovering the reason for this, offers to help. She urges Bassanio to rush to his friend's aid immediately after their marriage and offers to repay the debt many times over. She formulates a plan to further assist the traumatized Antonio by going to Venice disguised as a doctor of law with Nerissa as her assistant. It is in this manner that the two plots achieve a confluence.
What reason does Shylock give out loud for his hatred of Antonio?
Antonio was Christian and helped people with money without charging interest and deprived Shylock of his income as Shylock was shrew money lender.
Is there any evidence that Antonio in Twelfth Night and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice are the same person?
Yes the Antonio of Twelfth Night is a younger version of the Antiono of The Merchant of Venice, (1) They both come from Venice; (2) They are both engaged in like or similar trades. I have other reasons for thinking this as well. Well, it would be nice to hear the other reasons, because these two are not very good. Antonio in Twelfth Night is not said to be from Venice anywhere in the play. In fact the words Venice and Venetian do not appear in the play. And Antonio in Twelfth Night is a ship's captain (he is actually wanted for piracy in Illyria) and Antonio in Merchant of Venice is a wholesaler. It's like saying that the owner of a warehouse has the same job as a truck driver. You could work out a scenario where they were the same guy, but there is no reason here to think so. You could probably work out a scenario where he later became the Antonio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona as well.
Who is the Protagonist and Antagonist in The Merchant of Venice?
It's a bit awkward, because there are two plots in the play. In the first, Bassanio would be the protagonist in his quest for Portia's hand, but there is no antagonist. In the second, Shylock is a kind of antagonist to Antonio's protagonist, but one does not feel that Antonio is a character of that kind of significance. This may be one reason that many modern interpreters recast the play as the Tragedy of Shylock, with Shylock as a protagonist and Portia as an antagonist.
What is a reason to get to Venice fast?
Venice is sinking.
Why was Antonio sad in the beganning of The Merchant of Venice?
Antonio has good fortune because his business is not dependent on one ship, nor any single location. His financial position does not depend on commercial enterprises of current year. Thus, he is not worried, in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.
How did portia save antonios life?
In "A Merchant of Venice," Portia dresses like and impersonates a lawyer to save Antonio's life. She warned Shylock that his pound of flesh does not consist of blood, and if he kills Antonio, all of his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state for him threatening the life of a Venetian citizen.
Why does antonio hate shylock in merchant of Venice?
Shylock is a Jew and as such has always been forced to live on the fringes of society. In effect he has an understandable chip on his shoulder. He is not looking for revenge he is just trying to outsmart him.
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Why is Portia worried about her marriage in merchant of Venice?
Portia's husband is to be chosen for her by a lottery. She is not allowed to choose her husband or even influence the choice. Naturally she is a concerned that the lucky winner may be a man who is really unattractive for some reason: he is violent, or boorish, or an alcoholic, or a fop, or stupid.
Why did Shakespeare set his plays in Italy?
History suggests that the Merchant of Venice was set in Venice probably because Venice was a very popular city at the time the play was made. It could also do with the fact that the words Merchant and Venice sound good together. When looking at Shakespeare's motives for setting the play in Venice, it may help to look at why 'Othello' was also set in Venice... You may notice in Merchant of Venice how Shakespeare shows Venice as a state divided against itself - for example Christians resent the practice of usury, despite the fact that it is essential to their booming economy. Antonio spits on Shylock one minute, yet is asking for his help the next - Christian society at the time is shown to be ignorant of it's foundations, to the point of resenting them, and is therefore shown to be unstable. Going back to the question - one reason the play could be set in Venice is so that Shakespeare could present his critical view of the Christian/Monarch situation in England at the time, without attracting censorship of his work by the English government. Venice may also have been used as it has an element of mystery about it - bear in mind that few had been to exotic places such as Venice at the time, so it would've added an additional layer of mystery to the play.
What are some prejudice in the Merchant of Venice?
People judge Shylock because he is a Jew. He cannot escape the harassment that he receives for being Jewish.Jessica is too nice to be a Jew, and therefore must convert to ChristianityThere is only a happy ending for the Christian characters
Why does Shakespeare mention Jews at all?
The Shylock subplot of Merchant of Venice turns on a contract for the lending and repayment of money. The Jews were a group of people notoriously involved in this business (banking). It thus made sense to have the moneylender be a Jew. In addition, Jews were treated contemptuously by European society, which fact is referred to in the play and provides Shylock with a motivation and allows his humiliation and destruction at the end. Merchant of Venice is the only one of Shakespeare's plays to have Jewish characters in it, and they are there for a reason. Contrast this with Christopher Marlowe's play The Jew of Malta, in which the Jewish villain is just villainous without any subtext or explaination.
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