The Merchant of Venice ACT I NOTES

ACT I - Summary SCENE 1: The play begins with one of the main characters, Antonio, a merchant of Venice, discussing his sadness. He doesn’t know why he is sad. His friends Salarino and Solanio say that perhaps he is sad because he is worried about his ships that are out on the sea. However, Antonio is confident that they shall return. Antonio’s best friend, Bassanio, shows up to talk with Antonio. He tells him that he needs to borrow money in order to travel to Belmont and try to get the beautiful Portia to marry him. He wants to look presentable when he shows up as a suitor. Bassanio owes Antonio a debt from money he borrowed before. Antonio tells Bassanio that he cannot lend him money because he is waiting for his ships to return. However, he has good credit in Venice and will try to get Bassanio a loan so that he can travel to Belmont. SCENE 2: Scene 2 is set at the fictional location of Belmont. Portia and her waiting-woman Nerissa are talking about the rich men who have come as suitors and want to marry Portia. Portia hates all of them, but remembers a charming man named Bassanio. Nerissa mentions that if a man wants to marry Portia, he must enter a lottery that consists of three chests: gold, silver, and lead. A serving woman arrives and tells Portia that four sutiors are waiting to say goodbye to her and that the Prince of Morocco has arrived.

ACT I - Summary SCENE 3: Scene 3 takes place in Venice. Bassanio wants Antonio to borrow money from a Jewish money lender named Shylock. Antonio would only be borrowing 3,00 ducats (Italian money). Bassanio invites Shylock to a feast before he leaves, but Shylock ridicules him. Antonio shows up and Shylock ridicules him. It is clear that Shylock and Antonio hate each other. Antonio makes fun of him for being a Jew, which angers Shylock. Shylock eventually agrees to lend Antonio that money to give to Bassanio. However, if the debt is not repaid in 3 months, Shylock gets to cut off a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Antonio agrees the deal and “seals the bond.” Antonio is not worried because he knows that his ships will be back in Venice within a month. Once his ships return, he will easily be able to pay Shylock back.

“In sooth I know not why I am so sad.” SCENE 1 “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.” 1. Why is Antonio so sad? If he is not sad about his ships and not in love, what could possibly be making him upset?

SCENE 1 “A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one” What is Antonio saying when he calls the world a “stage?” If the world is a stage, what part is Antonio playing? What is the common saying associated with this quote?

SCENE 1 “In my schooldays, when I had lost one shaft, I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight The selfsame way, with more advised watch To find the other forth; and by adventuring both I oft found both…” What metaphor is Bassanio using in this quote? Why is he using this metaphor? What does he want Antonio to do?

SCENE 2 “…Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?” “…Therefore the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you, will no doubt never be chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love.”

SCENE 3 “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.” “If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.”