Where is the hero?

After reading Act I of The Merchant of Venice, what struck me as unique and odd is that, thus far, there appears no distinct, good-natured heroes in the story. Each character is someone self-involved and not extremely like-able. While one could argue that the character who comes closest to our hero is Bassanio, who needs money in order to fight for his love, I would have to disagree with giving him this title. Bassanio's primary interest seems to be in borrowing money so that he can ultimately gain more wealth. While he may care for Portia, he appears to have an equal interest in her wealth as he does in her looks and virtue. As he states:

"In Belmont is a lady richly left . . . /

Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth . . . /

O my Antonio, had I but the means

To hold a rival place with one of them

I have a mind presages me such thrift

That I should questionless be fortunate"

(1.2.161-76)

Bassanio uses words such as "rich," "worth," "thrift," and "fortunate," indicating that his mind is on money just as much as love, if not more so. This, as well as him easily accepting the terms of a deal in which his best friend, if he loses, will be forced to give a pound of his flesh, shows him to be a man who cares more about monetary conquests than love for those closest to him. Wouldn't a true hero object to this unfair deal?

We can neither classify Antonio as the hero of this play, due to the fact that he is wealthy, but whines about it rather than appreciating it. He is also clearly prejudiced against Jewish people, and has no problem treating them poorly. Yet when it is convenient for him, he solicits help from a man whom he has spit upon and insulted in the past. Even when he makes the deal with Shylock, he refuses to do it upon the basis of friendship, rather stating that he will continue "To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too" (1.3.126). This is hardly hero material.

Portia has yet to prove a heroine, based upon the behavior she displays thus far in the play. At the top of 1.2, we find her bemoaning her wealth and popularity amongst men. She states, "By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world" (1.2.1-2). She then asks Nerissa to list all of her suitors, so that she may state the reasons that each one is unworthy of her love. She hardly seems noble upon this first impression we glean from her.

Finally, Shylock is presented to us as an embittered old man who is bent on revenge towards Christians who have insulted his religion. Ironically enough, this character who is classically portrayed as the villain, seems to me to be the closest thing to a hero that we have in this play thus far. Shylock may be angry and wish ill upon Antonio, but this is only because Antonio has treated him like shit in the past. Later on, we will learn that he has other reasons for feeling dejected and spiteful. His daughter has rejected him and married a Christian man, and he is alone in the world. He even tells Antonio, after being scorned, that:

"I would be friends with you, and have your love,

Forget the shames that you have stained me with,

Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of usance for my moneys; and you'll not hear me.

This is kind I offer"

(1.3.133-37)

This statement shows that, despite his poor treatment, Shylock is willing to make a friendly deal with his enemy. Of course, he could be lying in order to look noble, but we do not know either way. Therefore, I conclude that a true hero is thus far missing from our story. Perhaps one will emerge as we read further, but it seems to me that in this tale of money and deal-making, everyone has their own best interests at heart. Where's the heroism in that?