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The first and most obvious flaw with the title is the reference to a 'Merchant of Venice' while in the play there are actually two merchants, namely, Shylock and Antonio. Who the 'merchant' really is, is unclear. Apart from this, if the title is meant to refer to the play's hero, the title fails to do so. Shylock is presented, as a bloodthirsty villain while Antonio seems to be a depressed and morose character.
There have been numerous arguments that have been put forward on whether or not Antonio is the merchant that the title refers to. Antonio is obviously one of the main protagonists in the play. He is a character who seems to care more for others than for himself. For instance, when Bassanio meets Antonio in Act I, Bassanio asks for an amount of money that Antonio does not have. Antonio decides to help him get a loan from a local moneylender. Antonio's selflessness is clearly demonstrated from the following quote:
" Where money is and I no question make,
To have it of my trust or for my sake. "
. . .
Apart from arguing who the most important of the two merchants are we should also consider the most important of all the characters in the play - Portia. Therefore, referring to Antonio in the play's title would be quite awkward due to his lack of strength.
Ultimately, this leaves Shakespear with Antonio. The following quote sums up this relationship perfectly.
This argument on its own can wipe out the possibility of Shylock being the Merchant that the plays' title refers to. Although he is the antagonist he has also come to dominate the imagination of critics and audiences alike. As mentioned earlier, Portia is a character who is far stronger than Antonio. " His depression continues throughout the scene and is evident in the following excerpt. Thus Shylock is the plays antagonist and his actions never let the audience view him in a positive light.
Shylock on the other hand is an arresting presence on the stage. cene 1)
On the other hand Shylock is presented as a bloodthirsty villain who care only of himself and his wealth. He plays an important role for almost every character and is also the one with the most connections.
There are several other arguments on who the most important characters of this play are and to whom the title should refer. If not for Portia, the hole in the bond would have gone unnoticed and Shylock would have received the forfeit.
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