Merchant of
Venice
Act I, Scene I
Extract 1
In sooth............much ado to
know myself.
1) Where
are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio say about his sadness?
Antonio and his friends are in a street
in Venice. Antonio says that his sadness
makes him depressed and dull. He further says that he is yet to learn about the
origin and nature of his sadness.
2) Give
the meaning of :
a) Whereof
it is born: how it originated.
b) A
want-wit sadness: a dull sadness.
c) That
I have much ado to know myself: that I have much difficulty in recognizing myself.
3) What
reason does Salarino give as the probable cause of Antonio’s melancholy?
Salarino tells Antonio that he is sad
because his mind is preoccupied with his ships filled with cargo, which are out
at sea.
4) State
in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by Salarino, when
Antonio’s ships were sailing.
Salarino compares Antonio’s ships
sailing on the waves with the great lords and wealthy citizens, who look down
on lesser men as they walk along the street. He says that compared to smaller
ships, Antonio’s ships move swiftly on the sea with their canvas sails and look
like grand spectacles or pageants of the sea.
5) The
play begins in an atmosphere of melancholy. Why do you think that Antonio is presented
as a melancholic and passive character?
Antonio is presented as a melancholic
and passive character mainly for three reasons. Firstly, by portraying Antonio
as a whimsical person, who is least bothered about the consequences of his
actions, justifies his signing the bond-agreement. Secondly, Antonio’s
melancholy creates a tragic atmosphere suitable for the play. Thirdly,
Antonio’s melancholy creates a sense of mystery for the audience.
Extract
2
Believe
me, sir, had I such........out of doubt, would make me sad.
1. Where
would Salanio’s attention be if he had business ventures abroad? Why would he
be ‘plucking the grass’? What else would he be doing in that context?
If Salanio had business ventures abroad,
his thoughts would be fixed on the dangers to his ventures and methods of securing them. He
would be plucking the blades of grass and casting them in the air to see which
way the wind blew, to see if it was blowing in a direction favourable to the
course of his ships or not. Further, he would look into maps for harbours,
channels and piers near to the shore where his ships could anchor in case of
need.
2. What
would make Salarino fear some danger to his ventures? Give two examples from
the opening scene to show how some objects remind Salarino of the danger to the
ships.
Every thought of Salarino would make him
fearful of danger to his business ventures. Two examples which remind Salarino of the danger to his
ships were: a) while cooling his soup by blowing on it, remind him of the stormy
winds at sea causing terrible damages to his ships b) the sandy hour-glass
remind him of the richly laden vessels wrecked on the sandy shore.
3. Give
the meaning of:
a) Plucking
the grass to know where sits the wind:
Plucking of grass and casting them in
the air to see which way the wind blew.
b) Peering
in maps for ports, and piers, and roads.
Looking into maps for harbours, channels
and piers near the shore.
4)
In spite of the danger to his ships, why is Antonio not worried about
his financial security?
Despite danger to his ships, Antonio is
not worried about his financial security because his business is neither
dependent on any one ship nor on any single location or commercial transactions
of the current year.
5) What
light does the opening scene throw on the danger that the sea could pose to
ships?
The opening scene describes the possible
dangers that the sea could pose to ships such as strong winds, dangerous
shallow waters, sand banks and dangerous rocks.
Extract
3
My
wind cooling my broth...........is sad to think upon his merchandise.
1) Where
does this scene take place? Name the people who are present there. In what mood
is Salarino in this scene?
This scene takes place in a street of
Venice. Antonio, Salarino and Salanio are present in the scene. Salarino is in
a talkative mood and wants to know the reason for Antonio’s melancholy. He says
that he too would be feeling melancholic
if his ships were sailing on the sea.
2) What would the wind cooling the broth
remind Salarino of?
It would remind Salarino of the stormy
winds at sea and of the terrible damages they might cause to the ships.
3) Give
the meaning of :
And see my wealthy Andrew dock’d in
sand,
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial
Wealthy Andrew refers to a Spanish ship
called Andrea captured by the British sailors in 1596. It ran aground when it
was being brought to England. Since then Andrew refers to a big cargo ship. In
the above lines Salarino imagines that his rich cargo ship is grounded in sand
and her mast dipped down lower than her sides as if trying to kiss the sands
that surround her.
4) What
was the ‘sandy hour-glass’? What would it remind Salarino of?
Sandy hour-glass is an apparatus used to
indicate time. It would remind Salarino of the dangers from hidden banks of
sand at sea, on which a ship may run aground.
5) What
is referred to as ‘wealthy Andrew’? Why is it so referred?
Salarino refers to his richly laden ship
as wealthy Andrew. It is so referred because Salarino feels that like the
Spanish ship Andrea captured by the British in 1569, his ship too is majestic
and rich with cargo.
6) When
Salarino would go to church what would he see? What would the scene make him
imagine?
When Salarino would go to the church he
would see the holy building made of stone. This scene would make him think of
the perilous rocks of the sea and imagine that a collision of his ship with
these rocks would be sufficient to break his vessel into pieces and scatter on
the sea all her spices and silks.
Extract
4
Why, then you are in love.
Fie,
fie!
1) Who
has just said that Antonio was in love? What was the reaction of Antonio to
that remark?
Salarino has just said that Antonio was
in love. Antonio calls the remark as nonsense and completely denies that he is
in love.
2) Antonio
says that he is not sad because of love. What explanation does Salarino give in
the extract for Antonio’s sadness?
Salarino concludes that Antonio is sad
because he is not happy. He remarks that there are some curious creatures in
the world. He swears by Janus, the two-headed Roman God that some people have
merry natures and are continuously laughing whether the things they see are
subject for mirth or not. Again there are others with the sourest countenance
who will not laugh at anything though the gravest old warrior Nestor himself
confirms the joke as most amusing.
3) What
is meant by the two-headed Janus? Why is he referred to in the extract?
Janus is a Roman God usually depicted
with two heads looking in opposite direction- one frowning and the other
smiling. He had received from god Saturn, the gift to see both the past and the
future. He is referred to in the extract to show that there are two types of
people-one happy and the other sad.
4) Describe
in your own words the two types of strange fellows who have been framed by
nature.
Nature has two types of people. The
first type of people have happy natures and often laugh even if the subject of
laughter is too trivial. The second type of people are those with serious and
grave faces, who do not laugh even at the most amusing jokes.
5) Who
is Nestor? Why is he referred to in the extract?
Nestor was the king of Pylos. He was one
of the greatest generals in the Trojan War. He was famous for his wisdom,
justice, knowledge of war and profound gravity. If he laughed, it meant the
joke was really funny. He is referred to in the extract to describe the sad and
grave people.
6) Give
the meaning of:
a) And
other of such vinegar aspect
The second type of people who are grave
and serious.
b) Though
Nestor swear the jest be laughable
Even if the wise and grave Nestor
certify the joke as funny.
7) Why
are a class of people compared to parrots?
A class of people are compared to
parrots because they laugh even at a bag-piper as foolishly as a parrot laughs
at anything.
8) Who
comes at the end of Salarino’s speech? Why does Salarino leave then?
At the end of Salarino’s speech,
Bassanio, Gratiano, and Lorenzo come. Salarino leaves Antonio then because Antonio’s friends, Bassanio,
Gratiano, and Lorenzo have come to give him company.
Extract
5
Let
me play the fool..............I’ll end my exhortation after dinner.
1) Why
is a young man compared to ‘his grandsire cut in alabaster’? Under what
condition is he likely to be infected with jaundice?
Gratiano gives the example of a
warm-blooded young man who represses his spirits and forces himself to
stillness till he looks like the marble image of his grandfather. He does so to
advise Antonio not to remain in melancholy. He is likely to be infected with
jaundice due to his bad temper.
2) Give
the meaning of:
a) Do
cream and mantle like a standing pond
Some men overcast their faces with a
pale expression as unchanging as the cream that forms on the surface of milk
and as the scum that forms on the surface of a stagnant pool.
b) Do
wilful stillness entertain
Maintain an obstinate silence not to
disturb the solemnity of their faces.
3) What
is said in the extract about the people who try to earn a reputation for
wisdom?
In the extract, Gratiano speaks about
people who try to obtain a reputation for wisdom, seriousness and deep thought
by remaining silent. Such people mean to say that they speak with the authority
of the Greek Oracle and they alone are infallible in their utterances. When
they speak, others should keep quiet.
4) What
is meant by ‘I am Sir Oracle’ and ‘let no dog bark?’
‘I am Sir Oracle’ means that I speak with the authority of the Greek
Oracle. The Greek Oracle made known the will of God and were received by all
without questions.
‘Let no dog bark’ means that let no one
speak. It refers to the attitude of those wise men who consider themselves as
the fountain of wisdom and want that when they speak, others should remain
silent.
5) What
advice does Gratiano give to Antonio at the end of his speech?
At the end of his speech, Gratiano
advises Antonio not to be one of those who try to gain a reputation for wisdom
by being silent. He further tells Antonio not to use melancholy as a bait to
win the reputation of wisdom and cheap popularity, which is like a worthless
cheap fish, a gudgeon.
Extract
6
In
my school-days, when........thankfully rest
debtor for the first.
1) Where
are Bassanio and Antonio? What has Antonio said earlier in reply to which
Bassanio speaks these words?
Bassanio and Antonio are in a street in
Venice. Prior to this extract, Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about his
plans. He adds, that if Bassanio’s plan is as honourable as he is, he then
promises him everything that he has- money, influence, personal help and utmost
resources.
2) Explain
the following:
Or bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first
The above lines mean that at any
rate Bassanio could pay the second loan
and remain his grateful debtor for the first.
3) What
confession has Bassanio made to Antonio earlier about his financial position?
How can you conclude that Bassanio is a spendthrift?
Earlier, Bassanio confesses to Antonio
that he has spent wealth by having a more lordly way of living than his
moderate income allowed him. Therefore, he has incurred heavy debts because of
his youth and extravagance. This proves that Bassanio is a spendthrift.
4) What
experience of his school days does Bassanio relate to justify his plan for
repaying the loan?
Bassanio says that when he was a boy at
school and he lost one of his arrows while shooting, he would shoot another
arrow in the same direction. Thus, by risking the second, he often regained
both the arrows.
5) How
does Bassanio propose to pay back his previous loan as well as the present
loan?
Bassanio proposes to pay back his
previous loan as well as the present loan by carefully managing the expenditure
of his second loan amount.
Extract
7
In
Belmont is a lady...........should be questionless be fortunate!
1) What
is meant by, ‘fair speechless messages’ and ‘nothing undervalued.?
Fair speechless messages mean glances
which are silent messages of love. Bassanio wants to say that sometimes he
received from Portia’s eyes lovely silent messages. The words ‘nothing
undervalued’ means not less precious. Bassanio says that his Portia is no less
precious than Cato’s daughter.
2) Who
are Cato and Brutus? Why are they referred to here?
Cato, the father of Brutus’ wife Portia,
was the great-grandson of the famous Cato, the Censor. In the Civil War between Pompey and Caesar he
supported Pompey and was defeated by Caesar. Brutus, husband of Portia,
was the chief of the conspirators
against Caesar and caused his assassination. They are referred to show that
Portia of Belmont is as precious and great as Cato’s daughter, Portia.
3) What
evidence is there in the passage to show that Portia’s fame had spread
throughout the world?
The passage says that Portia’s fame had
spread throughout the world as suitors from every part of the world come to
Belomont to win her hand in marriage.
4) Explain
in your own words the meaning of and significance of the ‘golden fleece’ which
Jason sought in Colchos.
Jason was a Greek hero, who was sent by
Pelias, his uncle who had usurped the throne , to fetch the golden fleece from
Colchos. In Greek mythology, golden fleece is referred to as the fleece of the
winged ram Chrysomallos. It was kept at an oak tree in a grove sacred to god
Ares and guarded by a dragon in Colchos. Bassanio compares Portia to the golden
fleece and himself in his quest for Portia, to Jason on his voyage to fetch the
golden fleece. He refers to other suitors as Jasons.
5) Describe
briefly the first impression the audience have of Portia in the opening scene.
Bassanio’s description of Portia in the
opening scene reveals that she is a paragon among women. She rich and beautiful
with golden hair. She has wonderful mental qualities and is virtuous as well.
Her fame has attracted suitors from all over the world. She is in no way
inferior to her namesake, Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife.
Extract
8
Thou
know’st that all my fortune............or for my sake.
1) Why
is Antonio unable to help Bassanio at once?
Antonio is unable to help Bassanio at
once since he has no money in hand as all his business ventures are at sea.
2) ‘
To raise a present sum.’ How much was
this sum? Why was it required urgently?
The sum was three thousand ducats. It
was required urgently for Bassanio to go to Belmont and present himself before
Portia as a worthy suitor.
3) What
does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do in this regard?
Antonio instructed Bassanio to find out
a merchant who is ready to give him money against his name.
4) Give
the meaning of :
a) That
shall be rack’d , even to the uttermost
The credit shall be stretched to the
utmost limit. Antonio says that he is ready to stretch the credit as far as to
equip Bassanio to go to Belmont to woo Portia.
b) To
have it of my trust or for my sake
Either on the security of my name or
from feelings of personal friendship.
5) In
the opening scene, the theme ocf romance
and love is introduced. How is this scene linked to the Bond story?
In the opening scene, Bassanio comes to
Antonio to borrow money so that he can go to Belmont to win his lady love. But
Antonio confesses that he has no ready cash and instructs Bassanio to borrow
money from a merchant against his security or name. Thus, Shakespeare links the
first scene of the bond story which involves the loan from Shylock.
6) Compare
briefly the character of Antonio with that of Bassanio in the opening scene.
Antonio is
introduced in the scene as a rich
merchant having many shipping ventures at sea. He is in a state of melancholy
and not interested in love. Loyalty and generosity towards Bassanio are the
major traits of his character. Compared to Antonio, Bassanio is shown as a
spendthrift young gallant, who lives a life of luxury beyond his means. He
seems to take undue advantage of Antonio’s generosity. Unlike Antonio, he is a
romantic man, who wants to marry Portia, a rich and beautiful heiress from