Death and Love in The Merchant of Venice Everyone loves a martyr. He is that boy who not only suffered but died for his cause, his passion, his love. Bassanio may not be the most worthy cause to die for, but in Act IV of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Antonio is resigned to doing so. In his last words before Shylock prepares to extract his pound of flesh, Antonio has abandoned efforts to prevent his punishment and assures Bassanio that the deed must be done for the good of all. Despite the horrific and morbid nature of the procedure, Antonio has many reasons to die under such circumstances. This is the only way out. Antonio devoutly loves a man who is unable to reciprocate his affections with the same intensity. Bassanio's love, which rightfully belongs to Antonio, is shared with Portia, his wife. And who can compete with the love a man feels for his wife? Antonio tells Bassanio, "I am armed and well prepared," speaking of his impending death (IV.1.264). He knew that sooner or later someone would have to be removed from this triangle and he is ready to be. In dying he does not need to take part in conflicts for Bassanio's affections. Being the third wheel in a marriage, Antonio would be the source of conflict for Portia, as she would have to compete for her husband's love, and ultimately, the unhappiness in her marriage would cause Bassanio to resent Antonio . But dying grants him the affection he desires without the pain and bitterness of rejection. While Antonio is able to see the benefits of martyrdom, he must convince Bassanio that, being such a kind and extraordinary friend, he is willing, even happy, to die for him. . Humility, it's the natural and subtle way to impress, so Antonio talks about how it's not... middle of paper... it's reassuring to Bassanio, but he also uses it to reassure himself. He does it because the pain of looking at Bassanio with another love is unbearable. His life is offered wholeheartedly to spare himself the torment of observing the happy couple of which he will never be a part. Death is but a small price to pay for the eternal love and admiration that Antonio must earn from Bassanio. Antonio wins when he dies. He wins the battle against Portia for Bassanio's love and manages to escape a long and lonely life of jealousy. The martyr is the most extreme example of devotion. He cannot be changed and is forever remembered for his selfless devotion. Work cited Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. The bank of the Shakespeare River. Eds. G. Blakemore Evans and JJM Tobin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997. 228-317.