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 ab stunned a merchandiser, Antonio, who borrows money from a Jewish money lender, Shylock. Antonio is borrowing the money for his comrade, Bassanio. Antonio wishes to fuddle the money to Bassanio so he can attempt to win the go on of Portia, a wealthy lady. When Antonio finds himself unable to re hand his debt, his flavor is at back up and the drama unfolds. 16th Century Venice was non like the world we sleep with in today. Although it was a very successful city, life for most heap was cloggy.It was a judgemental Christian city where slavery and arranged marriage were commonplace. Shakespeare uses this surround to bring out the worst in his characters. We see greed, prejudice and vindicate as each character fights for what they believe to be correct. In these surroundings it is not rocky to find a baddie but it is difficult to find a hero. So who is the true hero in the Me rchant of Venice? Antonio is one of the main characters he is the Merchant of Venice.He is wealthy, well known and a loyal relay transmitter to Bassanio. However he has hatred towards Jews. Some whitethorn consider Antonio to be the hero, for borrowing three thousand ducats for his dear 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 render his debt and his life is about to be taken he still holds the value 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 tout ensemble my heart (Merchant of Venice, conduct 4, Sc. 1, 277-279).But I do not think Antonio can be considered a hero because although he was revered 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 c only on thee so again, /To spit on thee again, to eliminate on 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 equipment casualty were very cruelHe presently become a Christian The other, that he do record a gift, Here 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 prolong to make Shylock a Christian he could construct fitting 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 also a big part of the play. He has the potency to be a hero because hes a hard working 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 plenteouses. At this point the reader feels poor 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 change when he goes to court and by this stage the reader has no sympathy for him so Shylock is definitely not a daring or likeable character. Portia is one of the only three main young-bearing(prenominal) 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 victim 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 coffin 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 du cats, Portia shows her kindness and love for Bassanio by offering to pay even morePay his six thousand, and disfigure 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 legality and facing the courtroom. When she cannot persuade Shylock to change his mind, she says that he is quite authorize under the law to cut off a pound of Antonios contour.However she outwits him by failing to mention that he cannot legally draw smear 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 li ve. This makes her bandstand out as a heroic character above all the others.