A prosperous Venetian merchant, liked and admired by his fellow citizens. To help his friend Bassanio woo Portia, Antonio signs a contract with Shylock, guaranteeing a loan with one pound of his own flesh as collateral. Many critics argue that Antonio harbors an unrequited erotic desire for Bassanio. In contrast to the benevolence that he shows others, Antonio expresses an intense hatred of Shylock and the Jews, though at the end of the play he does argue that Shylock should be shown mercy and not be condemned to death.
Antonio Quotes in The Merchant of Venice
The The Merchant of Venice quotes below are all either spoken by Antonio or refer to Antonio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 1
Quotes
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano—
A stage, where every man must play a part;
And mine a sad one.
A stage, where every man must play a part;
And mine a sad one.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, scene 3
Quotes
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still I have borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still I have borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, scene 1
Quotes
If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
I am a tainted wether of the flock,
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground.
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Merchant of Venice LitChart as a printable PDF.
Antonio Quotes in The Merchant of Venice
The The Merchant of Venice quotes below are all either spoken by Antonio or refer to Antonio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 1
Quotes
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano—
A stage, where every man must play a part;
And mine a sad one.
A stage, where every man must play a part;
And mine a sad one.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, scene 3
Quotes
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still I have borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still I have borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, scene 1
Quotes
If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
I am a tainted wether of the flock,
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground.
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
