The Rays are still going down!!!!!!!

I think the most interesting character in The Merchant of Venice is Antonio. Shakespeare tries to show him as being one of the truest friends to Bassanio and that he is just trying to make his friend happy by taking responsibility for paying the loan to Shylock. He happens to be taking a major business risk that doesn't pay off and he is now bankrupt and in debt to Shylock. The tables have now turned on Antonio, because he is now broke and Bassanio, now in a relationship with the wealthy Portia, has become rich. Now with the change of wealth it is now up to Bassanio to save his friend Antonio who supported him when he had no money or credibility. Even though Antonio has treated Shylock poorly, Shakespeare still tries to get the point across that Antonio is a great friend and that he is loyal to his friends and puts his neck out for them.