The True Hero in the Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare set in 16th Century, Venice. This is a play about a Merchant, Antonio, who borrows money from a Jewish money lender, Shylock. Antonio is borrowing the money for his friend, Bassanio. Antonio wishes to give the money to Bassanio so he flock attempt to win the hand of Portia, a wealthy lady. When Antonio finds himself unable to re yield his debt, his lifetime is at stake and the drama unfolds. 16th Century Venice was not like the world we live in today. Although it was a very successful city, life for most people was hard.It was a judgemental Christian city where slavery and arranged marriage were commonplace. Shakespeare uses this environment to bring out the get through in his characters. We see greed, prejudice and revenge as each character fights for what they believe to be correct. In these surroundings it is not difficult to find a villain but it is difficult to find a hero. So who is the true hero in the Merchant of Veni ce? Antonio is one of the main characters he is the Merchant of Venice.He is wealthy, good known and a loyal friend to Bassanio. However he has hatred towards Jews. Some may consider Antonio to be the hero, for borrowing trey thousand ducats for his nigh friend Bassanio but some may consider him as a villain due to his prejudice towards the Jewish money lender, Shylock. When he is unable to pay his debt and his life is about to be taken he still holds the values of friendship higher than his own lifeAnd he repents not that he pays your debt, /For if the Jew do cut but deep enough /Ill pay it instantly with all my heart (Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Sc. 1, 277-279).But I do not think Antonio can be considered a hero because although he was honourable to his friend and to Venice, his treatment of Shylock was unforgivable. Even when asking for the loan he admits his prejudice towards Shylock because he was a Jew I am as like to call on thee so again, /To spit on thee again, to spurn o n thee too. (Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Sc. 3, 125-126)And although he spared Shylocks life and left him half of his fortune, his terms were very ferociousHe presently become a Christian The other, that he do record a gift, here(predicate) in the court, of all he dies possessd Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.(Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Sc. 1, 385-388).Bassanio didnt shake off to make Shylock a Christian he could have just let him go. This cruel term overshadows all the good things that hes done for others so thats why I think Bassanio is a villain. Shylock is too a big part of the play. He has the potential to be a hero because hes a hard running(a) honest man, true to Judaism and endures prejudice in his everyday life You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, /And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine (Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Sc. 3, 107-108).His daughter, Jessica, runs away from him to be with her Christian lover, Lorenzo. She also converts to Christianity and steals all his r iches. At this point the reader feels sorry for Shylock but when he finds himself in the position of power, he turns out to be as cruel as everyone else Ill have no speaking, I will have my bond (Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Sc. 3, 17).His attitude doesnt permute when he goes to court and by this stage the reader has no sympathy for him so Shylock is definitely not a gallant or likeable character. Portia is one of the only three main female characters in the play. She is loyal to her late father, intelligent, witty and mischievous. Will she be a hero or a villain? Portia seems a dupe at first how shes forced into a marriage and doesnt have a choice.However when Bassanio, the man shes loved from first sight, picks the right c pull back in she seems content and she tells him that he is her king (Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Sc. 2, 165). When Bassanios dear friend, Antonio, is in trouble and needs three thousand ducats, Portia shows her kindness and love for Bassanio by crack to pay e ven morePay his six thousand, and deface the bond. Double six thousand, and then treble that, Before a friend of this description Shall lose a hair through Bassanios fault.(Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Sc. 2, 297-300)Her greatest act is saving the life of Antonio. It is easy for a rich person to pay a bond but Portia makes a greater sacrifice by disguising herself as a male doctor of law and facing the courtroom. When she cannot persuade Shylock to change his mind, she says that he is quite entitled under the law to cut off a pound of Antonios flesh.However she outwits him by failing to mention that he cannot legitimately draw blood and therefore can in fact not take the flesh he so desires. I think this shows that Portia is very heroic and witty. In my opinion I think that the true hero in the Merchant of Venice is Portia. I think this because she is kind, generous, helps others, and saved someones live. This makes her standstill out as a heroic character above all the others.