Character Analysis

Antonio is the sea captain who fishes Sebastian out of the ocean and saves his life. He's a relatively minor character in the play, but his relationship with Sebastian is fascinating for the way it dramatizes male bonds. Critics argue about whether or not Antonio is a close friend to Sebastian or a lover (it's possible that he's both). There's no way to know for sure, but we explore Antonio's erotic desire for Sebastian in detail in our discussion of the theme of "Love," which you can read more about under "Quotes."