Act IV.I is the dramatic court scene in The Merchant of Venice. Shylock brings Antonio before the court so that Antonio can answer his bail. The characters in the scene, as well as the audience, feel sorry for Antonio. He is the victim of the greedy and vengeful Shylock and there seems to be no way out of the bond. However, Antonio does not simply resign himself to his fate, he embraces it. He repeatedly asks the court “to pronounce the sentence” (IV.1 242). Anthony takes on the role of the sacrificial lamb because he is a good Christian and wants to keep his word. Furthermore, his devotion to Bassanio drives him to maintain a courageous appearance. By surrendering his life to Shylock, Antonio ensures the happiness and well-being of the friend he loves. Through the language of the court scene, Shakespeare synonymizes Antony with Jesus Christ. Anthony's actions in this scene are admirable and reflect his Christian identity. From the beginning of the scene, Antonio is determined to be Shylock's victim. Emulating Jesus' attitude towards his persecutors, Anthony says: “I am armed to suffer with tranquility of spirit. . .” (IV.I 11-12). Antonio realizes that bail must be paid and that the law clearly states that Shylock is victorious in his attempt to take a pound of flesh from Antonio. The merchant sees no way out, just as Jesus saw no way out when he begged for his life in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is why Antonio is resigned to his fate, to the point of asking for it. He pleads with the court again: “Leave the judgment to me and the Jew his will” (IV.I 83). Antonio is unequivocally the defenseless victim, as he himself underlines: “I am a contaminated flock. . .” (IV.I 114). Once cut by Shylock, Antonio will lose everything t...... middle of paper ......d when he believed he would be castrated religiously by Shylock. But then he turns and takes away Shylock's religious identity. Antonio does not show Shylock the mercy he is credited with; instead he destroys Shylock for his own personal satisfaction. There is nothing Christian about Anthony's particular brand of justice. Antonio plays the victim in Act IV.I, but he is the real villain. He acts as a religious persecutor, a hypocrite, a detractor, and a judge when he has no judicial right. Antonio begs for sympathy, but he doesn't deserve it. He is shown mercy by the court, but turns and shows no mercy towards his enemy. Antonio would never have been in this position if he hadn't been cruel to Shylock from the beginning. At the end of the play, Shylock is revealed as the victim of Antonio's hypocrisy, making Antonio the true villain..