Question

Draw a character sketch of Antonio

Answer 1

The qualities present in Antonio are as follows :

⇒ The Weakest character of Merchant of Venice

• Antonio was the weakest character in Merchant of Venice since he was melancholic and sad.
• Antonio had a weak heart and his weak condition was witnessed in the trial scene.

⇒ Melancholic character

• Antonio was melancholic and it was his characteristic trait.
• Antonio had only one friend who was about to get married.
• He had no family and he was worried  about Bassanio's future
• These could be some reasons for his melancholy.

⇒ Other notable mentions

• Antonio was not at all innocent in my eyes.
• He committed sins against Shylock . He called Shylock a "dog" , spitted in his beard , and he insulted Shylock's religion.
• Yet Shakespeare did not do anything against Antonio . He was finally rescued in the Trial scene by Portia.
• Shakespeare hoped to impress the audience by insulting a religion !

Don't write the last few points because " a so called great person " cannot make mistakes " in the eyes of the teacher "

But what I wrote was the truth

Hope it helps

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Answer 2

Answer:

Antonio is the merchant of Venice, the titular protagonist of the play. He is about forty years of age and has lived his life to the fullest. He is a successful businessman, owning a fleet of trade ships. Surprisingly, Antonio appears in relatively few scenes of the play, but he is the driving force behind much of the action.

Antonio is the model Christian, as defined by Elizabethan society. He represents, among other things, the ideal of nobility in friendship. He is also kind and generous, both to his friends and to the poor of Venice. Although he is now more philosophical, gentle, and quiet, he can still appreciate the frivolous nature of youth, as portrayed by his beloved friend, Bassanio. Aside from his love for Bassanio, he is unattached. Perhaps his lack of love is the reason for his melancholy.

Antonio's principles are against the borrowing or lending of money for profit. He reflects the medieval attitude that money should be lent for Christian charity. His noble generosity for his friend, however, leads him to cast aside these principles and to take a loan from the merchant, Shylock. He borrows money and pledges his flesh as the bond. When his ships are lost at sea, he cannot repay the loan and accepts the fact that he must pay Shylock with a pound of his flesh.