Is Antonio, the title character in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Gay? Does he love Bassannio in a homosexual way? Is Antonio's willingness to risk his life for Bassannio a clue to his true feelings toward him? No, Antonio falls victim to these accusations because he is merely a simple character who Shakespeare uses to help him fully develop the other characters in the story. In order for this play to succeed there cannot be any doubt as to whether or not Antonio is a good friend. Antonio's character does his job well, he is indeed a great friend, and this simple role leads readers to dig up storylines that are not really there. Antonio does not have homosexual feelings toward Bassanio. .
In every movie, story, book or play there is at least one character that is exaggerated, or is very dramatic. If characters were the same as you and I, or if they did not poses some sort of obnoxious personality trait, we would all be bored to tears instead of entertained. Antonio's love for Bassannio is indeed relevant to the outcome of the play, and if he had said, um nah, sorry Bass, but I can't help you out, Shakespeare's story would end there and no one would be studying The Merchant of Venice today. The fact of the matter is that since this play is old, and the times have changed we all must critique and re-evaluate The Merchant of Venice in order to suit our more liberal times. I wonder if in a few hundred years someone will look back at the Movie "Forrest Gump" and say he was secretly in love with Bubba the shrimp guy. The only reason The Merchant of Venice could evolve is that Antonio's character was developed just as Shakespeare wanted and nothing more. He is shown to be a very good friend, an upstanding citizen and good Christian that is all.
In Elizabethan times it is true that many men were homosexual but were not socially allowed to admit it because it wasn't as accepted as it is today.