Essay on Death and Love in The Merchant of Venice -- Merchant of Venic

Death and Love in The Merchant of Venice Everyone recognizes a martyr. Hes that guy who not hardly suffered just now fall ind for his beget, his passion, his love. Bassanio may not be the most worthy cause to die for, but in be IV of Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, Antonio is resigned to do so. In his final words onward Shylock is set to extract his pound of flesh, Antonio has abandoned efforts to prevent his penalisation and assures Bassanio that the deed must be done for the benefit of all. Despite the dismal and morbid nature of the procedure, Antonio has many reasons to die under such(prenominal) circumstances. This is the only way out. Antonio devotedly loves a man who cannot return the affections with the same intensity. Bassanios love which rightfully belongs to Antonio is shared with Portia, the married woman. And who is to compete with the love a man has for his wife? Antonio tells Bassanio, I am armd and well prepard, in speaking of his impending last (IV. 1.264). He has known that eventually someone would have to be take from this triangle and he is ready to be the one. In dying he need not take part in conflicts for Bassanios affections. As the trey wheel in a marriage, Antonio would be the source of strife for Portia, visual perception as she would have to vie for her husbands love and eventually, the unhappiness of his marriage would cause Bassanio to resent Antonio. But dying ensures him the affections he wants without the pain and bitterness of rejection. spell Antonio is able to see the advantages of martyrdom, he must convince Bassanio that as such a gracious and extraordinary friend, he is willing, even happy to die for him. Humility, is the natural and subtle way to impress, so Antonio speaks of how he is not... ...s reassuring to Bassanio, but he also uses it to reassure himself. He is doing this because the pain of watching Bassanio with another(prenominal) love is unbearable. His life is wholeheartedly offered in ord er to spare himself the distortion of observing the happy couple he will never be a part of. Death is but a small legal injury to pay for eternal love and admiration Antonio has to gain from Bassanio. Antonio wins when he dies. He wins the battle against Portia for Bassanios love and he wins an escape from a long and lone(prenominal) life of jealousy. The martyr is the most extreme illustration of devotion. He cannot be changed and is forever remembered for his selfless devotion. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. The Riverside Shakespeare. Eds. G. Blakemore Evans and J. J. M. Tobin. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997. 228-317.