Antonio Is Not Gay

ANTONIO IS NOT GAY

The merchant of Venice is not a prevalent character in Shakespeare's comedy, The Merchant of Venice. Antonio has little to offer as an individual. He only exists as the center of the plot. Antonio serves as a device to introduce more important characters such as Bassanio, Portia, and Shylock. Interestingly enough, Shylock, whose purpose in the play is to be nothing more than a villain Jew, is deeply explored as a character throughout the play. Shakespeare's analysis of the Jew and sympathy for the villain is contrary to the beliefs of his audience, who would much rather view character as one-dimensional. While the circumstances that surround Antonio are intriguing, his personality is simply dull. Even his opening lines display his monotony. However, his overreaction to love not being the cause of his sadness suggests that it the case and many critics are quick to claim that Antonio is hurt by his secret desire of his friend Bassanio. There is no evidence in the script of a love more than that of deep friendship, although it is more prevalent in Antonio than Bassanio. Due to his hurt from or lack of love and old age, Antonio is attempting to right the shortcomings and sorrow of his life through Bassanio and thus is willing to give up everything.

Antonio was hurt one time or another by love or lack there of. When Solanio suggests, "Why, then you are in love," Antonio replies, "Fie, fie!" (Shakespeare 2). This awkward reaction suggests that Antonio is trying to conceal his loneliness and lack of love from a woman. In Shakespeare's time, melancholy was known as a symptom of lovesickness (The Merchant of Venice). The audience would infer from the opening lines of the play that Antonio was in desperation of love. Since there is no woman mentioned in the text, the easy target of his sorrow is Bassanio. However, Antonio's character is considered to be a good Christian and thus would not be a homosexual. Even if Antonio was in love with Bassanio, there would be no reason for him to want to help Bassanio court a woman. It could be argued that Antonio truly loved Bassanio and wanted to give him pleasure in life by whatever means, but it is highly unlikely since Shakespeare ridicules love throughout the play. It is only out of sincere friendship that Antonio is willing to give anything to Bassanio. Antonio's generosity may also be induced by his lack of love. He would not want Bassanio to experience the life he's felt without love and wants to help him on his journey. His willingness to be a debtor to Jew and pay interest, a horrible notion for a man like Antonio, supports this argument. In addition, Antonio's interest in Bassanio's love life proves love is an important quality of life to Antonio. Antonio tries to protect Bassanio from the pains of lovesickness by offering him everything he needs.

Another reason for his sadness could be his old age. It is common for the elderly to have depression. Depression can be caused by "the reliving of losses sustained earlier in life that were not satisfactorily worked through, mourned, or otherwise dealt with. They may resurface because of some current reminder and then complicate our present mental state, making us more vulnerable to depression in the here and now" (Worsnop 887). Antonio, aware that Bassanio was interested in a woman, might have brought up memories of his former love life and possible death of a wife. Antonio may be sad because he is no longer able to play the field like his younger male friends. It is undeniable that Antonio cherishes his friends' youth. Gratiano, Bassanio, Salerio, Solanio, and Lorenzo are his support system. While these young men all look up to Antonio for his wealth and wisdom, Antonio looks upon them for this youthful spirit. Antonio longs to be like his businessmen and be able to woo women. However, since he can't, the next best thing is to support them on their endeavors. Not only does he help Bassanio, but he forces Shylock at the climactic court scene to "record a gift, here in the court, of all he dies possess'd unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter" (Shakespeare 79). Antonio's gentleness in this scene is in an effort not only to scorn the Jew, but to help out a younger friend of his. Antonio is trying to help the lives of his friends in order to overcome his loss of youth.

Antonio's sorrow through old age causes him to become suicidal. In today's society, one senior citizen commits suicide every hour and half causing the 65 and over age group to lead the nation is suicide rate (Worth). Antonio, who is advancing in age and is well past his prime, would be considered if not in this age group, close to it for his time period. Registered Nurse Kathleen Eldeeb warns that many elderly people, who aren't in the statistics, find ways of killing themselves by lowering medication or by refusing to eat (Worth). This is certainly the case for Antonio. He found a way to get out of his sadness without having to take the eternal blame of killing himself by succumbing to Shylock's bond for the pound of flesh.