Character in The Merchant of Venice
Antonio ♂ male
189Lines Spoken
1.1First Scene
5.1Last Scene
7.1%Of Play Dialogue
Antonio is the #4 role by line count in The Merchant of Venice — 189 lines (7.1% of the play) across 6 scenes between Acts 1 and 5.
Antonio enters the play in Act 1, Scene 1: “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:”
Dialogue partners
Across 6 scenes, Antonio most frequently shares the stage with: Gratiano (4 shared scenes), Bassanio (4 shared scenes), Shylock (3 shared scenes), Lorenzo (3 shared scenes), Portia (3 shared scenes).
Every scene where Antonio speaks
| Act / Scene | Lines spoken | Share of scene |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 1 | 47 | 14.8% |
| Act 1, Scene 3 | 39 | 21.3% |
| Act 2, Scene 6 | 6 | 8.6% |
| Act 3, Scene 3 | 19 | 48.7% |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | 66 | 14.0% |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 12 | 3.7% |
Other plays featuring a character named Antonio
| Play | Lines |
|---|---|
| Antonio in The Tempest | 148 |
| Antonio in Twelfth Night | 105 |
| Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing | 55 |
Quick facts
Where does Antonio rank in The Merchant of Venice’s cast?
#4 by line count, with 189 lines across Acts 1 to 5.
Who does Antonio speak with most often?
Gratiano — 4 shared scenes.