Antonio

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Antonio Character Summary

Antonio is our antagonist. He exploits and betrays his brother and our protagonist Prospero.

Prospero trusted his brother to help him with the running of his Dukedom while he studied 'the government I cast upon my brother'. But this backfired as Antonio then organised for the King to support him in usurping Prospero by bringing together an army to run him out.
Prospero believes that Antonio would have killed him and Miranda if it had not been for 'so dear the love my people bore me.'

Antonio is not just happy with having his brother’s dukedom. He wants more and encourages Sebastian to support him in his aims.
Antonio brags: 'look how well his garments sit upon me / Much feater than before' showing no remorse for his betrayal of his brother who is the rightful Duke of Milan. Antonio embodies Machiavellian characteristics and is ready to use dirty tactics to help Sebastian achieve his ends, dismissing the King’s brother’s concerns about his “conscience”.

He manipulates and coerces Sebastian into committing a similar crime to his own, using imagery of 'a crown / Dropping upon thy head.'
Antonio describes Alonso as 'No better than the earth he lies upon' while referring to Sebastian as 'worthy' and 'noble'.
Manipulative tactics are being used to corrupt Sebastian and encourage him to commit a sinful act. This is an act that Antonio himself has not and will not commit.

Antonio is our antagonist. He exploits and betrays his brother and our protagonist Prospero.

In Act 5, Prospero forgives his brother: 'For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother / Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive / Thy rankest faults, - all of them.'
To Prospero, Antonio betrayed him the most, not only being a member of his close family but also being somebody he placed a lot of trust in.
The superlatives 'most' and 'rankest' show that Prospero was most hurt by his brother’s betrayal. But despite this, Prospero forgives him.

Overall, Antonio’s wicked actions against Prospero and essentially God in plotting to kill the King make him the most villainous character in the play.
This is even more embedded when he does not repent for his actions in Act 5 when others do, and does not appear remorseful for any of his choices.

Here are three key quotations that highlight aspects of Antonio's character:

'We all were sea-swallowed, though some cast again, / And by that destiny to perform an act / Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come / In yours and my discharge.'
- Antonio views the shipwreck as an opportunity to assert his power, the structures of the court have been knocked down and now is his chance to take control.

Antonio: 'Let's all sink wi' th' king.'
Sebastian: 'Let's take leave of him.'
- This exchange highlights how opportunistic Sebastian and Antonio are - Sebastian very quickly gives up his loyalty as soon as Antonio suggests it.