Summary of The Merchant of Venice, Act I, Sc I-Act II Sc VII

Act I Scene I

The play opens wilh the merchant Antonio in a strange melancholy or sadness, which is not explained in the play. He is in a street in Venice along with his two friends Salarino and Salanio, The friends try

to explain the reason for his sad state, though Antonio himself does not get convinced, Later two more of his friends, Gratiano and Lorenzo  also come along with Bassanio. Gratiano also tries to give his own explanation for Antonio’s sadness and is little bit sarcastic in his comments. Antonio takes the comments lightly. and when they go away. starts a serious discussion with Bassanio, inquiring about his trip to meet Portia.

The very first scene of the play makes us understand how friendly and close Bassanio and Antonio are to each other.

Salarino’s cxplanation for Antonio’s sadness- Antonio is sad because he (being a rich shipping merchant) is concerned about (the safety) of his ships which are presently in the ocean (coming to Venice)

Salanio’s cxplanation for Antonio’s sadness- He says that if he (Salanio) had such business abroad (in the ocean), as Antonio has his mind would definitely have remained concerned with such business.

Indirectly he meant to say that it was not surprising if Antonio was sad presently.

Salanio himself would have remained –

• plucking grass in order to find the direction of the wind:

• he would be looking at the maps to find out the ports, harbours and the roads (directions) through which the ships would move:

• anything, which could make him fear misfortune to his venture, would have made him sad.

He meant to say that something similar was happening with Antonio presently.

Salarinos examples to explain his fears, if he happened to be in place of Antonio - Salarino explains that:

·       If he happened to blow wind in order to cool his broth, it would remind him of the harm (or destruction) that great wind would do to his ships at sea, and this thought, in turn, would make him suffer from ague (a fever).

·       He would not prefer to see the sandy hour-glass because the sand of the hour glass would remind him of the shallow water and the flat plateau of the ocean surface where his ship would get stuck and would turn down, bringing the top portion lower than the sides to touch the sand of the sea.

• wealthy Andrew - refers to a ship with goods

• ribs - the side of the ship

• kiss - touch; burial the sand bed

If he happens to go to a church and see its stony structure. It would remind him of the dangerous rocks. which, if they touch the sides of his ships, would break the ship and would scatter the cargo of

spices on the sea-water and would also cover the waves with the silk from the ship.

Salarino added that such misfortune would mean that one moment he was rich and the next moment he was worth nothing. Anybody who thinks all these would also think that such thing may actually happen and this thought would definitely make the person (Antonio presently) sad.

Janus - Roman God of doors and gates. Also the protector of state in the time of war, he is always depicted with two heads, looking in the opposite directions.

Nestor - Old king of Pylos (ancient Greece), famous for his wisdom and long age. A person, who was considered serious and grave.

Gratiano’s explanation for Antonio’s sadness - Antonio remains too much worried about worldly matters. He adds that a person loses his happiness if he tries to get it by showing too much concern about worldly matters.

Gratiano’s sarcastic comments about Antonio’s sad state - He said that they were people who try to cover their faces intentionally with stillness (seriousness) so that others would think them as persons of wisdom gravity and profound conceit (great pride). Such people also make others think that whatever they say should be taken as God’s voice and when they speak, no one else should speak. He became more sarcastic by adding that such people remain wise till the time they do not open their mouths. The moment  they open their mouths, the listener would call them fools and thus get cursed. (In Bible, calling ones brother a fool was like getting cursed) He gave a parting advice to Antonio by saying that he should not try to catch this opinion of being wise by remaining (intentionally) in a sad state.

• melancholy bait - using sadness as a bait

• gudgeon - an ordinary fish, which gets caught very easily

Act-I Scene – II

The scene introduces Portia, who is in her home in Belmont. Her father is dead and has left behind huge fortune for her and this has created great problems for her. Suitors from around the world are  coming to win her. The other great problem that she faces is that, in his will, her father had set a condition that who so ever chooses the right casket from the three, (the three caskets are made of gold, silver and lead; one of the three contains the portrait of Portia, the right casket is the casket containing the portrait of Portia), will marry Portia. Portia did not have any other option but to marry that person, even if she did not like him or failed to love him.

In the scene, Portia is discussing her problems with her attendant, Nerrisa. Nerrisa speaks in favour of Portia’s father and explains that Portia’s father was a virtuous person and all virtuous persons get good inspirations at the time of their death; meaning that Portia need not worry about her suitors, as a person who rightly, loved Portia, would be the person, who will choose the right casket.

Already six suitors have come to win Portia and it seems that Portia has already met them, Nerrisa wants to know what Portia feels about the six suitors.

Portia gives her own explanation but adds that she would be very happy if all of them returned home saving Portia from marrying one of them. To Portia’s luck, all six decide not to take part in the lottery in order to win Portia. They said that they would like to win and marry Portia, but not by lottery. Portia is relieved and happy, but then the message comes that the Prince of Morocco is now coming for the same purpose.

The scene is also making the readers understand that Portia and have met earlier, probably once, and Portia [and even Nerrisa] carry a good opinion of Bassanio.

The way Portia describes the various suitors, gives the image of Portia, She has great charm, intelligence, wit, imagination and knowledge.

Different suitors and their description (and Portia’s comment on them) as given by Portia :-

• Neapolitan prince- The Prince of Naples (a place in Italy) – he is just like a horse (colt); he does nothing but talk about his horse; he thinks that it is one of his great qualities that he can fix the shoe-horse to his horse, himself.

County Palatine- The Count from Palatinate (a place in Germany) - the only thing that he does is to frown; he seems to be a person who probably does not care whether Portia chooses him or not; even when he hears merry tales he does not smile; since he is so full of sadness in his youth , when he grows old he will be like a philosopher who always weeps; Portia would prefer marrying a skull (a skull with a bone in its mouth) than any of the two suitors. She prayed to God to protect her from these two suitors.

• Monsieur Le Bon- The Lord from France - Since God has made him a man for that reason only he can be called a man (he does not have any manly qualities). Portia says that it is a sin to mock at somebody, but she cannot help mocking at the French Lord; he talks about a horse more than the Prince of Naples; he frowns more than the Count of Palatinate: he is not a proper man as he has the bad qualities of every man; even if a throstle (the bird - thrush, a small British bird) sings, he starts jumping and dancing: he does fencing with his own shadow. If Portia marries him, it would he like marrying twenty husbands. She adds that if the Lord hates her, she would still forgive him, but if he loves her greatly. she would not be able to return his love.

Falconbridge - The young Baron of England - Portia did not say anything to him; this is because the English man did not understand Latin, French or Italian; Portia on the other hand did not know English well; though the English man was a proper man, but Portia would not love to marry a person with whom she would have to converse in sign language: he was very oddly dressed - his doubllet was from Italy, his hose was from France. and his hat was from Germany and he showed behaviour of many countries. (Remember the Pun here – ‘suit’ means that he was not suited for Portia; the second meaning was that he was not properly dressed.)

• Englishman’s neighbour. The Lord from Scotland - He has love for his neighbour (an English man); he received one blow from him; he promised that he would repay him [return the blow] when he is in a position to do this; a Frenchman had given a sealed guarantee to help. (Here Shakespeare has made a sarcastic comment on the troubles between Scotland and England in general, when France gave an open support to Scotland, that in case of an English attack, they would help Scotland.)

The young German – the nephew of Duke of Saxon - she

liked him very badly in the morning when he was not drunk; in the afternoon he was worse as he used to be drunk then; when he was at his best, he was miserable man and when he was at his worst, he was hardly better than a beast; even if the worst thing happens (that is the German happens to choose the right casket, and becomes eligible to marry Portia), Portia would manage to avoid marrying him.

·       good council the cripple - good advice is like a lame person which moves slowly

·       Sibylla - Sibyl- a traditional old woman of ancient Rome, whom Apollo had promised that she would live as many years as there were grains of sand in a handful; here it means a very old lady.

·       Diana - Goddess of moon and hunting. She symbolizes virtue, chastity and virginity.

·       Marquis -:- Is an Italian noble title.

·       Montferrat - Is the name of a place in Italy in around fifteenth century.

Act-I Scene – III

The present scene again shifts to Venice, but the more significant aspect of the scene is the introduction of Shylock, the rich Jew money lender. When Antonio told Bassanio to arrange for the money (which Bassanio required for his trip to visit Portia), from the money market of Venice in his name, Shakespeare has made Bassanio come in contact with Shylock, in spite of all the hatred that Christians and Jews had for each other.

The scene makes it clear to what extent Antonio and Shylock hate each other. Shylock clearly mentions the injustices Antonio has heaped upon him. In the present play the major aspect of the hatred relates to the system in which Christians lend money without charging interest where as the Jews lend money on interest. Shylock plays his role better by adjusting his mood as per the situation.When Antonio shows his anger, Shylock does not react and probably, follows his own statement that sufferance is the characteristic of the Jews. Finally it is Shylock who shows his shrewd mind by adding a condition in ‘merry sport’, Antonio, probably being very sure of his ability to repay the loan, overlooks the hidden danger, though Bassanio is not very happy.

The way Antonio used to insult Shylocks-

• Antonio used to abuse Shylock at Rialto about his money business and the interest he charged on his money that he lent.

• He called Shylock a misbeliever.

• He called him a cut throat dog.

• Spit upon Shylock’s gabardine (his robe).

• Emptied is rheum upon Shylock’s beard.

• Kicked Shylock as one kicks a dog which tries to enter the house.

The kindness that Shylock showed and the condition that he puts as ‘merry sport’ –When Antonio told Shylock angrily that he need not lend money as a friend, Shylock showed his cool shrewd mind by remaining calm and even telling Antonio that he would give him money without charging any interest. But in ‘merry sport’ would add a condition that if Antonio fails to repay the fixed amount at the fixed date and fixed place, Shylock would, as penalty, extract a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body that Shylock pleases.

The reference of Jacob

Abraham is considered as the patriarch from whom all Jews trace their decent. Isaac is the son of Abraham and father of Jacob and Esau (his twin but elder brother). Jacob was the third in the line

of heirs to family estates. The first one being Abraham and the second Isaac. Jacob should not have been the third heir as Esau was elder to Jacob. But Jacob’s mother played a trick to have Jacob as Isaac’s heir.

Jacob had gone to serve for a time under his uncle Laban. An agreement was made between Jacob and Laban that Jacob should receive for his services the lambs which were born with spots and stripes. During the breeding season Jacob placed wooden rods in such a position that the shadows of the rods fell on the sheep. By this means Jacob is said to have influenced the sheep so much that almost all the

lambs were born spotted or striped, and thus became the property of Jacob.

Shylock gave this example to explain that even the holy books state that one should get some profit for one’s work. Therefore charging interest on the money that he lent was not wrong.

Why shylock refuses to dine with Antonio –

Antonio being a Christian, eats pork, whereas Shylock being a Jew does not eat pork as the Jews consider Pigs as dirty. This refers to the story from the Bible where it is mentioned that once there was a mad man who was possessed by devils. He had pleaded Jesus to free him of the devils. Jesus had ordered the devils to leave the man. There happened to be a herd of pigs feeding by the hillside nearby. The evil spirits begged that they should be send into the pigs. So Jesus gave them the permission and the spirits entered the pigs. For this reason pigs are considered as dirty by the Jews.

Reference of tax-collector –

‘Publican’ word is used for tax-collector. Even in bible the reference of tax-collector has been used in a derogatory manner. Publican is a natural term of contempt for the Jews. In order to curse Antonio, Shylock addresses him as a fawning [servile] tax collector.

Act-II Scene – I

The scene starts with the arrival of the Prince of Morocco, another suitor coming to win Portia, We understand that Pieria does not want to marry the Prince who is of ‘dark skin’. But the tragic thing

is that her father had put such a condition that if the prince chooses the right casket, Portia would not have the choice to refuse to marry him.

The different things, the prince of Morocco says in defence of himself:-

It can be assumed at the beginning of the scene itself that the prince, who is from a country in Africa, a person with a very dark complexion, will not prove to be a person for whom Portia will develop a feeling of love or any sort of liking. The price seems to be aware of it and on his own starts giving an explanation that he should not be disliked merely for his dark skin.

The things he says to defend his dark complexion

• his dark complexion is because he is more exposed to sun [his country being the ‘neighbour’ of the sun],

• if a person very fair, is brought from a country from the northern part of the world, a cold country, where the sun (Phoebus) fails to melt the icicles and a cut is made on the skin, then his blood will not prove to be less redder than the other person. Meaning that the prince has more feelings of love than the fairer person,

• his dark appearance frightens the bravest person,

• the most beautiful ladies of his country have loved him for his dark complexion

• he would not like to change his complexion: the only reason he would do it. is to seek her love and to attract her attention.

The things he says in praise of himself –

• with the help of his sword he has killed the king and the prince of Persia.

• he has won three battles against the Sultan of Turkey

• he can out stare the boldest man on the earth.

• he is braver than the most daring man on earth

• he can take away the young sucking cubs from the mother bear

·       he can mock [challenge] the lion who is roaring in search of his prey.

Act-II Scene – II

The scene introduces the comic character of the play, Launcelot. He is presently working as a servant to Shylock. The conversation between himself and his father makes the readers understand that he

has decided to leave the work at Shylock’s house and wants to work for Bassanio.

The dialogue which takes place between the father and the son is not serious in nature and does not carry much serious meaning. The humour consists in ridiculous mistakes and wrong uses of words which Launcelot introduces in his speeches. Shylock’s image of a miserly and cruel person is furthered by Launcelot’s hatred of him.

The scene can be divided into three parts. In the first part Launcelot debates with himself whether he should leave Shylock’s work and take up the service of Bassanio. In the second part, Shakespeare has brought Bassanio together with Launcelot and Bassanio readily agrees to take Launcelot into his service. The third part of the scene shows Gratiano requesting Bassanio to take him to Belmont, where he assures that he would behave in proper manner.

Act-II Scene – III

This scene introduces Jessica, the daughter of Shylock. A struggle is going on in her heart between her loyalty to her father and her love for Lorenzo, a Christian whom she intends to marry. The eagerness with which she wants to leave her father’s house, adds to Shylock’s image of a mean person. She gives a message to Launcelot to be delivered to Lorenzo.

Act-II Scene – IV

This scene devolops the subject of Jessica running away with Lorenzo. Lornezo receives the letter of Jessica and is happy to know that Jessica has finally made her plan to run away with him.

Act-II Scene – VI

This scene tells us of the development of Jessica with Lorenzo. Jessica does this, carrying all the gold, jewels and the ducats of her father. Gratiano and Salarino, wearing masks, are waiting for Lorenzo

in front of Shylock’s house for Lorenzo. He is late. Lorenzo and others finally do not participate in the masque celebration as Antonio tells them that the wind is favourable and Bassanio has to move by ship to Belmont.