In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio begins the play with the line “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.” His inexplicable melancholy baffles and wearies him. His friends Salarino and Salanio come up with suggestions, saying that he is nervous about losing his merchandise at sea. Antonio denies this and asserts that his wealth does not depend on “the fortune of this present year” nor are his assets all in one place.
Salarino concludes that Antonio is in love, which he dismisses with, “Fie, fie!” Antonio concludes that he simply has a depressive disposition: the world is “A stage where every man must play a part, / And mine a sad one.” He cries to say goodbye to his friend Bassanio, and he seems more resigned than despondent when faced with imminent death.
Bassanio may be the key. Antonio, as far as we know, is an unmarried but generous man with no family to speak of. He bestows much of his affection and money on Bassanio, even risking his life to borrow money to help the young man woo the wealthy Portia. Salarino and Salanio describe Antonio and Bassanio’s tearful parting and observe, “I think he only loves the world for him.”
When Shylock threatens to take a pound of flesh from Antonio, the merchant finds it pointless to reason with the man, declaring, “Pray God, Bassanio come / To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!” All he wants is to say goodbye to Bassanio and for him to know how much he loves him. Perhaps the source of Antonio’s sadness is love after all.
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