CRITICAL CHARACTER

ANALYSIS OF SHYLOCK
AND ANTONIO
Critical analysis of Shylock and Antonio
 Introduction

 Antonio and Shylock are the

two main protagonists in
William Shakespeare’s play
“Merchant of Venice.” Both of
them are merchants who lend
money and are popular figures
in the city of Venice. However,
both of them have different
temperaments and principles,
and they both hate each other.
 Character Sketch of Antonio

 Melancholy
 Kind hearted
 Had a profound affection towards Bassanio
 Anti- semitic
 Merciful
 Characteristics of Shylock

 Shylock is a direct contrast to Antonio in every respect

 A Usurer
 His Revengeful
 Blood thirst Nature
 Discontented and angry 
 Deceitful and crafty man
Continue

 A Villain Deserving Some Sympathy.

 Sufferer, and victim
 Dynamic and clever character
 Unbound love 
 He is a champion of his race and speaks eloquently about the injustices suffered
by the Jews
 Devout practitioner
 Comparative Analysis
Antonio
 Lends money without interest and helps
the people in need.
 Melancholy and overconfident.
 Passive character as it doesn’t add any
development in the play.
Shylock
 Hard hearted and Cruel moneylender
 Lends money with high rate of interest
and exploits the people in need.
 Clever, mean and calculating person.
 Active character as story is concerned
with the shylock’s hypocrisy.
 Comparative Analysis

Antonio Shylock
 Though the hero , dwindles into utter  Firm in his all decisions and actions.
insignificance. Stands firm in court also.
 Denigrates religion, clothes and business  Speaks about injustices suffered by jews
of jews.  Can be called a tragic hero
 Can be called a passive hero
 Conclusion for Antonio

 He is portrayed as a wealthy merchant who is well-respected in the city of Venice.

 In the play, they both get apart from the thing to which they are most attached to. Antonio has to
depart from his dearest friend Sassanian while Shylock's daughter Jessica elopes with all her
father's money with her. For Antonio, its the relation of friendship which is of greatest value but
Shylock cries over his money and for his daughter. Though he is disgusted over her elopement
because she had eloped with a Christian boy.
 Antonio's friendship and love for Sassanian are remarkable as he puts all his wealth and power
so that Sassanian could gain his love. On the other hand, Shylock cries over his wealth and for
his daughter. At the end of the play, Antonio gets all his ships and money back while Shylock
losses all his remaining properties too.
 Presented by group-3
Gargi Agarwal – 22010422023
Gauri Khandelwal -22010422028
Shubhra yaahaswi-22010422003
Simran aswani-22010422008