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Antonio In The Merchant Of Venice Analysis

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Should Shylock have forgiven his “arch enemy” Antonio in the play Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare?
The answer to this question may vary from reader to reader, depending on religious and cultural sensibility. The audience back in Shakespeare 's time, would most certainly interpret this play from a perspective influenced by the historical context. At the time, Christians controlled this society and Jews were many times ostracized and even despised, not only for their religious beliefs, but also by their money lending activities, known as “usury”. Though Venice in the sixteenth century was know for being more tolerant towards Jews, Shylock and Antonio 's Venice tolerated, rather than, included members of Jewish heritage and faith. Nowadays, the reader will most likely be divided between Shylock 's malice and the coarse treatment he is subject to and one can argue that, ultimately we are unable to hate him because we pity him for the treatment he is subject to.
When Antonio comes to Shylock to ask for the “three thousand ducats” there is already a prejudiced background poisoning this interaction between the two characters. Shylock has been mistreated in the past and victim of prejudice and therefore, he reacts to Antonio 's …show more content…

Antonio 's behaviour towards Shylock 's is reproachable and harsh. At the end of the day Shylock is right “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?” Throughout the play Shakespeare uses rhetorical questions to really get the reader to think and reflect on what is being said and to emphasize Shylock 's feeling towards Antonio. Summing up, I believe that Shylock could have forgiven Antonio but I believe he did the right thing by not doing it. He kept loyal to his sense of justice and he was yet again, despised and

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