Themes in the play 3. Love, marriage and friendship • Portia plays the stereotypical role of an Elizabethan woman, dutiful to her father / husband and giving up all she has. • Antonio shows platonic love for Bassanio – he is prepared to give up his life for him. • The play shows the triumph of love / friendship over greed. Shylock hates Antonio because of his business practice, it stops his profit. Act four, scene one shows the extent of his greed.
