What's the contrast in the personalities of Bassanio and Antonio from the Merchant of Venice?

Question

from Act one scene 1, what are the differences in the personalities of Antonio and bassanio?

Please Help!!

Answer 1

Ah! The Merchant of Venice. My favourite play.

Well, there are several ways to look at the contrasts between Bassanio and Antonio. Probably the most prominent difference is that one (Bassonio) lives by the winds of love and is spontaneous and one (Antonio) is a businessman who patiently invests and is more rational and careful. They are friends and Bassanio has asked Antonio for $ and favours before. Even at the trial where Shylock demands his pound of flesh Antonio recognizes that the law and his punishment for failing to uphold the contract with Shylock is correct, and as a businessman he accepts the outcome. He makes the decision rationally and straightforwardly. Bassanio, on the other hand, gives his heartfelt offer of many times the debt to be paid and even offers himself in place of Antonio. The heart versus the wallet. What has changed?

I love this play. The recent movie with Pacino is very good. It is incredible to understand in this century how Shakespeare wrote, and the people appreciated, it as a comedy.

Answer 2

Look at the first thing Antonio says in that scene: " In sooth, I know not why I am so sad."

Now look at Bassanio's first line:"Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?"

Antonio is saying, "I'm totally bummed, and I truly can't figure out why." Bassanio is saying, "Hey, guys, when are we going to have some fun together?" Right there is a clue to the differences in their personalities.

Now read the scene from line 113 to the end, after all the other characters have exited and only Antonio and Bassanio are left on stage, talking to each other. What do they say to each other? What emotions and attitudes and desires do they express? What can you tell about their different personalities from this conversation?

The people who went to Shakespeare's plays 400 years ago weren't any smarter than you are. They could figure out what the characters were all about, and so can you.

Answer 3

Well, there are several ways to look at the contrasts between Bassanio and Antonio. Probably the most prominent difference is that one (Bassonio) lives by the winds of love and is spontaneous and one (Antonio) is a businessman who patiently invests and is more rational and careful. They are friends and Bassanio has asked Antonio for $ and favours before. Even at the trial where Shylock demands his pound of flesh Antonio recognizes that the law and his punishment for failing to uphold the contract with Shylock is correct, and as a businessman he accepts the outcome. He makes the decision rationally and straightforwardly. Bassanio, on the other hand, gives his heartfelt offer of many times the debt to be paid and even offers himself in place of Antonio. The heart versus the wallet. What has changed?

Answer 4

Antonio has a floppy dick and Bassanio is frisky as sh*t

Answer 5

antonio is a merchant and bassanio is a spendthrift .