Shakespeare gives Antonio a decidedly unsavory side to his character while showing the persecution that Shylock justly feels a reaction to, so it is possible, from one perspective, to read The Merchant of Venice with very little sympathy for Antonio and much for Shylock. Granted, Shylock, takes extreme measures in writing up his loan contract but Antonio displays extreme arrogance in cavalierly agreeing to it even though Bassanio has the sense to protest it.
Shylock accuses Antonio of unchristian and uncivil, truly deplorable behavior, which Antonio not only doesn't deny, but claims he'll commit again, and worse, if given the chance. In the opening scene Antonio tells his friends that he is not gloomy about finances because he is not dependent on the success or failure of his present shipping venture. Yet, a few moments later, he tells Bessanio that he has nothing with which to provide him a loan, thus forcing the conflict of the play caused by an appeal to Shylock for a loan. One reading of Antonio's words recognizes that he lies to his friends about his finances and then is forced to confess the truth to Bassanio.
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