Does Antonio Want to Die?

As I read Act four of The Merchant of Venice, a question emerged concerning what Antonio wants. The question I have is does Antonio want to die. In act four and throughout the play Antonio shows little concern regarding his life and putting his life on the line. If Antonio wants and is willing to die, the question becomes Why. In this post, I will give two possible explanations why Antonio is willing to give up his life.

Concerning the first question, does Antonio want to die; I think the text suggests Antonio does indeed want to die. Act four, scene one, takes place in the court, where the Duke acts as the judge in the dispute between Antonio and Shylock. During this entire scene, not once does Antonio object to the conditions of the bond, or plead with Shylock to forfeit the bond. Instead, Antonio gracefully accepts his death. This can be seen when Antonio states to the court “I do oppose/ My patience to his fury, and an armed/ To suffer with a quietness of spirit/ The very tyranny and rage of his” (4.1, lines 9-12). Antonio states in these lines he is prepared to suffer the consequences of agreeing to the bond. Although Antonio does not plead for his life, everyone else does including, the Duke, Portia, Graziano and Bassanio. This can be seen in the Duke’s speech where he states to Shylock “Forgive a moiety of the principal, / Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, / That have of late so huddled on his back” (4.1, 25-28). Antonio responds to these pleas with lines such as “Let me have judgment and the Jew his will” (4.1, line 82) and “Most heartily I do beseech the court/ To give the judgment” (4.1, lines 237-238). I argue if Antonio really wanted to live, he would not be speaking in this manner, but rather would have a more urgent, pleading tone like his friends have in the scene.

If Antonio does want to die, the question becomes why he wants to die. I think Antonio wants to be a martyr. To be a martyr, there needs to be strong cause to die for. The text gives two possible causes/people as the reason why Antonio is willing to give up his life. The first possibility is Antonio wants to be a martyr for Christianity similar to Jesus Christ. The language Antonio uses in the above quotes have religious connotations with words such as suffer, spirit, and judgment. Additionally, one of the main conflicts of the play is between Christianity and Judaism, therefore Antonio dying for his religion, killed by a Jew, could make Antonio into a hero figure. This is one possible reason Antonio wants to die, but I think there is a stronger argument for the reason I will give next.

I do not think Antonio wants to die to be a martyr for Christianity, but rather a martyr for Bassanio and his love. The text clearly indicates throughout that Antonio deeply cares about Bassanio. If this were not the case, Antonio would not have agreed to lend Bassanio money and agree to Shylock’s bond. In act 3, scene 3, Antonio seems most concerned with Bassanio witnessing his death as indicated by the line “Pray God Bassanio come/ To see me pay his debt, and then I care not” (3.3, 35-36). Antonio’s concern of Bassanio’s death is also indicated in his letter where Antonio states “since in paying it, it is impossible I should/ live, all debts are cleared between you and I if I might but see/ you at my death” (3.2, 316-318). Antonio clearly wants Bassanio to know he is dying for him, which is why it is so important that Bassanio witness the death. Antonio believes he is dying for Bassanio’s happiness, since it was the bond that allowed Bassanio to go to Belmont and win Portia. I am leaning towards this interpretation, but I’m open to be persuaded to another perspective on Antonio.