The Merchant of Venice, Act I Scene I

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