What is the character sketch of Antonio?

Antonio is a kind-hearted man who lends money to needy people without charging any interest from them. In this respect he offers a striking contrast to Shylock who is a usurer. (A usurer is a money lender who charges excessive rates of interest on the loans which he gives).

What are Bassanio character traits?

He is young; he is in love; and he is, by nature, impulsive and romantic. Young men in love have often gone into debt; thus Bassanio has always borrowed money and, furthermore, no moral stigma should be involved. Shakespeare needs just such a character in this play for his plot.

Who is The Merchant of Venice describe his character?

Antonio is the title character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. An influential, powerful, and wealthy nobleman of Venice, he is a middle-aged man and a merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied up in overseas shipments when the play begins.

Is Bassanio a good character?

At the beginning, Bassanio is a good-natured but irresponsible young man who has gotten himself into debt by living beyond his means. Bassanio’s success in solving the riddle indicates his worthiness as a suitor for Portia.

Is Portia Shylock daughter?

Portia: A rich heiress, of Belmont. Jessica: The daughter of Shylock.

What is the plot of The Merchant of Venice?

Plot Analysis. The Merchant of Venice is essentially a play about property: in telling the story of a merchant who treats his own flesh as property to secure a loan, and the moneylender who calls in the debt, the play asks questions about the value of life itself.

Who is The Merchant of Venice?

Antonio is the merchant of Venice, the titular protagonist of the play. He is about forty years of age and has lived his life to the fullest. He is a successful businessman, owning a fleet of trade ships.

What is a Merchant of Venice?

The Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice is the story of a Jewish moneylender who demands that an antisemitic Christian offer “a pound of flesh” as collateral against a loan. First performed in 1598, Shakespeare’s study of religious difference remains controversial.