Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
The Merchant of Venice is a notable literary work by William Shakespeare. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Merchant of Venice.
Answer
Why does Shylock hate Antonio?
Shylock and Antonio are two of the main characters in “The Merchant of Venice” (1600) by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Antonio is a Christian merchant in Venice. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender. There is deep hatred between them. Shylock especially hates Antonio for many reasons.
Different Religions: Shylock is a Jew and Antonio is a Christian. In Venice, Christians and Jews do not get along. Shylock says about Antonio,
“I hate him for he is a Christian.”
Besides, Christians treat Jews badly and look down on them. Antonio speaks rudely to Shylock many times. Shylock remembers the insults and feels hurt.
Business Competition: Both men work with money in Venice. Antonio lends money without taking any interest. This ruins Shylock’s business of charging interest. Shylock loses customers and earns less money. He blames Antonio for spoiling his profit. Because of this business concern, Shylock hates Antonio.
Personal Insults: Antonio publicly insults Shylock. He calls Shylock with different bad names and spits on him. Shylock says,
“You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gabardine.”
Antonio does not regret his rude actions. So, Shylock never forgets this and hates Antonio. He also wants revenge.
Desire for Revenge: All these things make Shylock angry. He wants to punish Antonio for his pain. Shylock gets his chance when Antonio needs a loan. He gives a strange condition that if Antonio cannot repay the loan in time, he will cut a pound of flesh from his body. Antonio agrees to the bond (agreement). This creates a major conflict in the play.
In conclusion, Shylock hates Antonio for many reasons. He feels hurt by religion, business, and insults. So, a desire for revenge grows in Shylock’s heart. This hate leads to a big conflict, and makes the play interesting.