A SMALL PRESENTATION ON THE MALE CHARACTERS OF PLAY "MERCHANT OF VENICE".THE MALE CHARACTERS LIKE ANTONIO , BASSANIO AND SHYLOCK WHO PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PLAY.

1. MADE BY :DIYA PATIL

5. ANTONIO
Antonio plays the pivotal role in the play , ’The Mercant Of
Venice ”. He is a wealthy mercant who owns a number of
ships carrying merchandise to the four corners of the
world . He is a hounarable man. His kindness and
generosity endear him to all and he spends most
generously on his friends .
Antonio is a philanthropist who lends money without
intrest and even tries to save people from the clutches of
shylock , the money lender. Although antonio is a
thorough gentalman ,he is not free from prejudice against
shylock , the jew who lends money on intreast . He dislikes
shylock and shows it by spitting on him and calling him a
dog . Thus , this shakespearean character ,though noble
,has some human weaknesses.

7. BASSANIO
Bassanio is a young handsome man and dearest friend of
antonio.He is habitual to an extravagant and grnd lifestyle for
which he frequently remains in debt.
Bassanio’slove for portia though appears to be mercenary in
the begnning ,develops into true love later in the play .His
nobilty and charecter is evident in the correct choice of the
casket. He proves to be a affectionate husband in the end.
Bassanio is of a happy nature which is in sharp contrast to his
friend antonio’s melancholic nature.he is a carefree man who
loves to enjoy the pleasures of life. He has nothing heroic in
him but he is definitley quite charming.

9. SHYLOCK
Shylock is a complex and a dynamic charecter,who aroueses
contrasting emotions of hatred and admiration. He is a devout
and proud jew, who is called a dog and other demeaning
names by antonio . shylock is a greedy and misrable man
whose love of his life is money. He lends money on high
interest he manipulates bassanio’s need for money to avenge
antonio.
Shylock is described as a vindictive character , with a passion
for revenge . Antonio is his most hated enemy and he gets the
golden opportunity to take revenge on him when antonio takes
a loan of three thousand ducats for his friend , bassanio.
Shylock is a towering personality , who can assert himself
fearlessly even in the presence of his enemies .

10. GRATIANO
Gratiano is bassanio’s friend and a great talker. He helps to
provide humour in the play by his witty and outspoken
comments. He says the most daring thing and his coarse remarks
in the trail scene are both astonished and disgusting . He is
impulsive but good at heart.
Gratiano accompanies bassanio to belmont where he falls in love
with portia’s lady in waiting ,nerissa.He follows bassano’s
example and gives away his ring to nerissa . In the end he is
confronted by her , he admits his mistake and promise never to
part with a ring.

11. LORENZO
Lorenzo is the friend of antonio and bassanio. He woos shylock
daughter jessica and wins her love ,finally encouraging her to
elope with him .he is a sharp contrast to gratiano as he speaks
little in a solution. Lorenzo though not attacted by jessica
money ,spends it irresponsibly with her and wastes it .lorenzo
is trustworthy and therefore ,portia puts in his care the
management of her house .
Lorenzo is poetic in nature ,speaking two of the most beautiful
passages in the play. He utters line celebrating the inner musical
harmony of the universe and elernal values of romantic love .he
expresses his anti jewish prejudice in his speech later ,by
eloping with a jewish girl without her fathers knowledge.