During the time that Shakespeare was writing his comedies and tragedies, audiences never knew quite what to expect from one of his plays. With other playwrights the title usually provided a strong indication of the contents, but not so with Shakespeare. InJulius Caesar, for example, Shakespeare inserts the assassination of his title character before the play is even half way over. The bard then proceeds to focus on the character ofBrutus, who becomes the actual central protagonist of thatplay.
Shakespeare was inventive and creative in all of his plays, and part of that invention involved breaking the traditions and conventions that were often strictly adhered to by otherplaywrights.
InThe Merchant of VeniceShakespeare similarly plays with the concepts and conventions regarding protagonists and antagonists; and likeJulius Caesar, the title character is not actually the central figure of the play.Infact, Shakespeare’s merchant,Antonio, is more of a plot device, a bit part, rather than a major role in the work. But unlikeJulius Caesar, pinpointing the central figure ofMerchant of Veniceis somewhattrickier.
The first half ofMerchantbears some similarity toOthello.Inthat tragedy the character ofIagodominates the action and actually isthe