Antonio, the wealthy Christian merchant of Venice and the merchant of Venice that the title speaks of. Known to his close friend Bassanio as a warm and loving man. However known to the money lending Jew, shylock, as a cruel heartless man. Antonio is a sober, serious man who lacks the appreciation of a good joke and even in women.
             Antonio begins the play in a rather depressing mood.
             "In sooth I know not why I am sad;
             It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
             But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
             What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
             And such a wand-wit sadness makes of me.
             That I have rush ado to know myself."
             It seems to us, the audience, that Antonio is depressed because he may be losing his dearest and perhaps only friend Bassanio to a young beautiful heiress named Portia. Antonio wishes that Bassanio would not pursue this young heiress but he respects Bassanio too greatly to make a fuss. Instead he agrees to lend money to Bassanio so he can appear wealthy to the young Portia. Unfortunately all of Antonio's capital is tied up in ships so they must go to the much hated alien of Venice. Shylock the Jew.
             At this point in the play, the bond plot is introduced Here Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio 3000 ducats under Antonio's name. However there is a small argument before the bond can be signed. Shylock and Antonio resent each other. Antonio despises Shylock for being a usurer and Shylock despises Antonio for lending money gratis. And not to mention the racial conflicts as one is a Christian and the other a Jew.
             "I am as like to call thee so again
             To spet on thee again, to spur thee too.
             As to thy friends,-for when did friendship take
             A breed barren metal for his friend?-
             Who if he break, thou mayst with better face
             ...