Male Friendship in William Shakespeare´s The Merchant of...

In 16th century England, platonic, passionate friendships between men were a commonality, and this was the case for Bassanio and Antonio. The Merchant of Venice shows how Antonio’s help in Bassanio’s pursuit for Portia’s love is actually his way of showing love. Antonio gives Bassanio financial support even though Bassanio already owes him money. He especially risks himself by taking out a bid from Shylock because all of his assets are at sea. These actions can be seen as loyal friendship, but Antonio exceeds friendship by taking a risky loan and putting his life in the hands of a cruel Jew to assure the contentment of his dear friend. Antonio’s actions overstep heterosexual boundaries by plunging into a risky business ordeal so his friend can charm Portia in style. The first scene where we are introduced to Antonio, he is speaking to his friends Salarino and Gratiano. He is a melancholy, distressed character who proclaims â€Å"I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano,—a stage where every man must play a part, and mine a sad one.† (Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4). This line becomes more important when Bassanio enters, and Gratiano and Salarino rush themselves away, knowing that Antonio would prefer to be with Bassanio alone. After they leave, Antonio presses Bassanio about the girl he is interested in. While this is a common thing to ask among friends, deeper inquiry suggests that Antonio has deeper feelings for Bassanio. Thus the line about the â€Å"part† Antonio plays in the worldShow MoreRelated Merchant of Venice Essay: Antonios Love for Bassanio1721 Words   |  7 PagesAntonios Love for Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Antonio feels closer to Bassanio than any other character in The Merchant of Venice. Our first clue to this is in the first scene when, in conversation with Antonio, Solanio says, Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, / Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: / We leave you now with better company (i. i. 57-59). Once Antonio is alone with Bassanio, the conversation becomes more intimate, and Antonio offers an indebted BassanioRead MoreGender Roles And Roles Of William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice 1837 Words   |  8 PagesRenaissance stereotypes of women and men and their various roles and responsibilities in society are reflected in Shakespeare. What sets Shakespeare apart is the fact that he also challenges, and at times even breaks down those stereotypes especially in his comedies. Hamlet may proclaim â€Å"Frailty thy name is woman†, but even the merest of character analyses of Portia in The Merchant of Venice, or Viola in The Twelfth Night conc lusively proves that they are anything but. In this paper we begin by examiningRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pagesnothing but their food. The ship plowed south and east through heavy storms, along the Gold Coast, anchoring at various ports, and finally stopping at Lagos, Nigeria, a former slave market, now a British mercantile center. Moslem and Christian merchants traded with African tribesmen. Everyone was engaged in buying or selling. Then the ship continued to Port Harcourt, located in the mouth of the Niger River. When the Hesseltine crossed the equator, Hughes shipmates initiated him as a Son of NeptuneRead MoreA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 PagesTrithemius in Book 2 of his notorious Steganographia (1500) and in his Antipalus Maleficiorum (c. 1500). One copy (British Library, Sloane manuscript 3679) passed down from Simon Forman (d. 1611) to Richard Napier (d. 1634) to Elias Ashmole (d. 1692) to William Lilly (d. 1681). E.M. Butler wrongly associates it with Gio. Peccatrix, (no doubt a pseudonym) who edited an Italian version of the Key of Solomon (British Library, Sloane manuscript 1307). Misled by some comments by Mathers and others, Dr. Butler