Question

describe Antonio's melancholic nature​

Answer 1

Explanation:

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Answer 2

Answer:

The reference is to the Act I Scene 1 of the play Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare which begins with the speech by the merchant Antonio who exclaims that he is sad and melancholic and doesn't know the reason for it.

Explanation:

• The play Merchant of Venice describes the plot of the merchant Antonio and his friend Bassanio who had set out to seek the Portia's hand for marriage.
• Bassanio lacks the funds needed to put forth his proposal and asks Antonio for monetary aid.
• Antonio loves Bassanio dearly and is ready to partake with anything for his happiness.
• Therefore, inspite of knowing that the cunning moneylender Shylock may have some trick up his sleeve, he is ready to borrow money from him.
• In the opening scene, Antonio exclaims that he is deeply saddened, and is experiencing a feeling of hopelessness, but doesn't clearly know the reason for it.
• "I know not why I am sad" summarises his feeling of melancholy.
• Further in the course of the play, this trait of hopelessness and extreme sadness in Antonio is again brought to focus when he loses hope during the course of the trial and says to the judge that he is ready to give his life as he cannot repay Shylock.
• Bassanio and Portia encourage him to be cheerful but his sense of melancholy overpowers.
• Probably an element of sadness can be attributed to the fact that now he feels his dear friend Bassanio is bethroted to another woman who is going to be his wife.

Hence, we see that the author clearly brings forward the characterisation of Antonio since the first scene by showing his melancholic trait.