The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -- Act 1, Scene 1 -- Summary and Analysis

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Summary

Antonio is sad, but not sure why. His friend Salarino suggests that he is preoccupied with his trade business and the fate of his ships at sea. Solanio says that he too would be worried in Antonio's stead. Antonio answers that since he does not depend for his success on any one venture, it is not his business that makes him sad. He is not in love, either.  Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano enter and Salanio and Solarino exit.

Gratiano expresses concern for Antonio's welfare. Antonio feels doomed to be sad. Gratiano counters this notion of predestination and says he chooses to be a happy fellow, and that people can choose how to be. Gratiano cautions him against being serious and silent just to appear wise. They jest about the value of silence. Gratiano and Lorenzo exit.

Bassanio now shares with Antonio that due to his extravagant lifestyle he is direly in debt, mostly to Antonio. Bassanio asks for more money and assistance so that he can regain what he once had. Antonio gladly obliges. Bassanio tells Antonio of the rich and sought-after Portia whom he desires. He requests help to attain her. Antonio replies that all his assets are at sea, but that they shall go at once to try to get a loan to help Bassanio.

Main events

  • Antonio is sad/preoccupied
  • Bassanio asks Antonio for help in his pursuit of Portia, and Antonio acquiesces

Participating Characters

  • Antonio- merchant of Venice
  • Salarino- a gentleman of Venice
  • Solanio- "
  • Bassanio- an Italian lord
  • Lorenzo- a gentleman of Venice
  • Gratiano- "

Themes

  • Origins of feelings
  • Sadness
  • Anxiety
  • Sympathy
  • Predestination vs. free will
  • Wisdom and foolishness
  • Appearance vs. reality
  • Exorbitant spending
  • Financial imprudence
  • moneylending

Analysis and Discussion

  • Is Solanio being nice or causing Antonio more anxiety?


Solanio: Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind,
Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads;
And every object that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt
Would make me sad.
  • Sacrilege?

Salarino: Should I go to church

And see the holy edifice of stone,

And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks,

Which touching but my gentle vessel's side,
Would scatter all her spices on the stream

  • The relationship between Salarino, Solanio, and Antonio and the other lords- Antonio pushes, Salarino pulls and needs attention. There is some resentment, tension between the friends and the lords


SALANIO
Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,

Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well:

We leave you now with better company.
SALARINO
I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,

If worthier friends had not prevented me.
ANTONIO
Your worth is very dear in my regard.
 I take it,
your own business calls on you

And you embrace the occasion to depart.
SALARINO
Good morrow, my good lords.
BASSANIO
Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?

You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?
SALARINO
We'll make our leisures to attend on yours.
Exeunt Salarino and Salanio

  • All the world's a stage (Jaques as you like it); also, predestination- Antonio sees his fate as fixed and tragic. Gratiano has a counter-proposal, about free will and choice

ANTONIO
I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano;

A stage where every man must play a part,

And mine a sad one.


GRATIANO

Let me play the fool:
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come,
And let my liver rather heat with wine
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio--
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks--
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,
As who should say 'I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!'


Table of Contents: The Merchant of Venice -- Summary And Analysis 

Act 1
Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3
Act 2
Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4, Scene 5, Scene 6, Scene 7, Scene 8, Scene 9
Act 3
Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4, Scene 5
Act 4
Scene 1, Scene 2
Act 5

Scene 1

 

The Merchant of Venice. Image source



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