Written sometime between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is classified as an early Shakespearean comedy. It is a work in which good triumphs over evil, but some serious themes are examined and some issues remained unresolved. The usury theme in The Merchant of Venice can be traced to the historical separation between the Christian doctrines and Jewish law concerning charging interest during the middle ages. Antonio and Shylock revealed their similarities and differences through the virtues of loyalty, generosity, and courage.
Antonio a Venetian maritime merchant showed to be a loyal friend to Bassanio by sealing such a bond for him. Even though Antonio had all his money invested in a fleet of ships on the high seas, he promised Bassanio and said, “ You know me well, and herein spend but time To wind about my love with circumstance; And out of doubt you do me now more wrong In making question of my uttermost Than if you had made waste of all I have Then do but say to me what I should do That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am prest unto it. Therefore speak.” #Antonio showed loyalty to his good friend Bassanio by lending out the money he needed to court Portia, a rich noble woman wooed by many rich suitors. However Antonio lended his good friend Bassanio the money from Shylock a Jewish moneylender. “ I would be friends with you and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stained me with, Supply your present wants, and take no doit Of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me. This is kind I offer.”# Shylock shows loyalty to Antonio’s friend by lending 3’000 ducats for three months because Antonio’s means are sufficient.
As a Christian, Antonio does not lend out money with interest however he is willing to borrow from Shylock at interest for his dear friend Bassanio. “ Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving of excess, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I’ll break a...