Is There a Hero in 'the Merchant of Venice?'

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‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a play without a hero. Discuss this statement with careful reference to the roles played by Bassanio and Antonio. If you were to look in an English dictionary, there are many definitions for the word ‘hero’ two of these are: a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealised for courage, outstanding achievements, noble qualities, the other one you might find is: the chief male character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathise. In the majority of books where there is a hero, that person is a man. This links in with ‘The Merchant of Venice’ because at the time during Elizabethan times, women were counted as second class citizens, and it was the male role of the family to work and earn money for his family. If someone is a hero, it could also mean that they risk there life to save the life of another. Bassanio is not a hero in the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. He borrows money from his friend, Antonio, to woo Portia. “O, my Antonio, had I but the means, to hold rival place with one of them, I have a mild presages me such thrift, that I should questionless be fortunate.” Bassanio knows that he cannot afford to pay Antonio back after he has borrowed money from the money lender, but Bassanio still takes the money from Antonio but tells Antonio “to you, Antonio, I owe the most, in money and in love.” Bassanio knows that Antonio has lent Bassanio a lot of money in the past and that Bassanio is supposedly in debt to Antonio, but Bassanio wants to pay him back with ducats. This shows us that Bassanio is a coward as he is using Antonio for his money and it also shows that they have a strong friendship. Antonio borrows money from Shylock, someone who he despises and openly hates. Shylock says “You spet on me Wednesday last; you spurned me such a

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