The Merchant of Venice

“I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano,

A stage where every man must play a part,

And mine a sad one.” 

The source of Antonio’s sadness at the start of the play is never revealed. At this point, his ships are still afloat and on schedule, and he has no reason to believe he will suffer financial ruin. Given the exceedingly close relationship between Antonio and Bassanio, some scholars believe this reflects Antonio’s unrequited love for Bassanio. This is consistent with scholarship that finds queer themes across Shakespeare’s work. Regardless of whether Antonio is romantically or sexually attracted to Bassanio, it is clear that his emotional energy is fixated on a member of the same sex, unlike most of the other principal characters in the play.

“Let me play the fool,

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come,

And let my liver rather heat with wine

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.” 

Gratiano concludes that if the world is merely a stage—a common Shakespearean metaphor and one Antonio endorses—then there is little purpose in playing a melancholy individual. Compared to all other parts, Gratiano says, it is best to play the fool because it is the most fun. Yet Antonio and Gratiano’s insistence that the world is a stage is predicated on the notion that humans choose which part they play. This is complicated by Shylock, who can be viewed as a hero or a villain depending on one’s