Why had Antonio insulted Shylock in the past ? (Merchant of Venice).
Answers
Answered by
13
rowseNotessearch
HOMEWORK HELP > THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
According to Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, how had Antonio insulted him in the past?
According to Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, how had Antonio insulted him in the past?
print Print
document PDF
list Cite
Expert Answers
DAVMOR1973 | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
The nearest that Shylock comes to being a sympathetic character in The Merchant of Venice is in act 3, scene 1, when he recounts the litany of grievances he has against Antonio. Antonio's generally presented as an all-round nice guy, so when Shylock shows us a less savory side to his personality, we're more than a little shocked. As well as spitting at him and calling him a cur, Antonio, according to Shylock, has laughed at his every setback while also cursing his good fortune. Not only that, but he's guilty of stirring up Shylock's enemies while turning his friends against him.
Like most Christians at the time, Antonio regards usury—lending money at interest, which is what Shylock does for a living—as a most grievous sin. So he feels perfectly entitled to insult Shylock to his face, even though he didn't really have much choice in making his living this way, as money-lending was one of the few professions open to Jews at that time. By the same token, Antonio also has no qualms about insulting Shylock's religion. Anti-Semitism was rife at this time, and there will have been nothing unusual in Antonio's behavior in this regard.
mark as brinliest if possible plz hope you got ur answer
HOMEWORK HELP > THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
According to Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, how had Antonio insulted him in the past?
According to Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, how had Antonio insulted him in the past?
print Print
document PDF
list Cite
Expert Answers
DAVMOR1973 | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
The nearest that Shylock comes to being a sympathetic character in The Merchant of Venice is in act 3, scene 1, when he recounts the litany of grievances he has against Antonio. Antonio's generally presented as an all-round nice guy, so when Shylock shows us a less savory side to his personality, we're more than a little shocked. As well as spitting at him and calling him a cur, Antonio, according to Shylock, has laughed at his every setback while also cursing his good fortune. Not only that, but he's guilty of stirring up Shylock's enemies while turning his friends against him.
Like most Christians at the time, Antonio regards usury—lending money at interest, which is what Shylock does for a living—as a most grievous sin. So he feels perfectly entitled to insult Shylock to his face, even though he didn't really have much choice in making his living this way, as money-lending was one of the few professions open to Jews at that time. By the same token, Antonio also has no qualms about insulting Shylock's religion. Anti-Semitism was rife at this time, and there will have been nothing unusual in Antonio's behavior in this regard.
mark as brinliest if possible plz hope you got ur answer
Answered by
11
because Shylock is a Jew he always compares himself to Antonio because they Both are merchandise in Venice.
Similar questions