<P> Antonio is the title character in Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice . An influential , powerful and wealthy nobleman of Venice , he is a middle - aged man and a merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied up in overseas shipments when the play begins . He is kind , generous , honest and confident , and is loved and revered by all the Christians who know him . His willingness to die for Bassanio is a manifestation of his character . Antonio manifests his piety by cursing and spitting at Shylock ( anti-semitism was common in Europe in Shakespeares days ) . </P>
<P> Antonio is the title character in Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice . An influential , powerful and wealthy nobleman of Venice , he is a middle - aged man and a merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied up in overseas shipments when the play begins . He is kind , generous , honest and confident , and is loved and revered by all the Christians who know him . His willingness to die for Bassanio is a manifestation of his character . Antonio manifests his piety by cursing and spitting at Shylock ( anti-semitism was common in Europe in Shakespeares days ) . </P>
antonio 's role in the merchant of venice
antonio 's role in the merchant of venice
the title character
the title character