Question

how is merchant of Venice title apt for the play

Answer 1

Antonio is generally recognized as the merchant in The Merchant of Venice. He is a Christian who stands as the opposite of the money lender, Shylock who is a Jew. In European culture, when in the 1500s and 1600s Christianity was virtually universal, Antonio is also the symbol of Christianity. When Antonio is dealing with Bassanio, he does act like a Christian showing generosity, love, devotion, kindness. Later the same day, when he is talking with Shylock. Antonio shows not one shred of Christian qualities: he is hateful, mean, cruel, insulting. This is also part of the representation Christianity of the era because it was viewed as right to suspend Christian precepts when dealing with Jews.