The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare: A Detailed Summary of the Play (Act I , Scene i)

                          The Merchant of Venice: Detailed Summary

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Act I

Dear students I am going to discuss the detailed summary of Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Let’s begin Act I Scene (i).

The scene opens in a street of Venice where Salarino, is talking to Antonio, one of the main characters of the play.

We also find another character Solanio standing there.

Antonio is unable to understand as to why he is sad on that day. Solarino tells Antonio that the reasons behind his sadness might be the ships which were in the sea full of loads of spices and other material. Solanio also supports Solarino’s view. Then Solarino speaks about the dangers of sea in the context of ships’ owners, who invest a lot of money on their ships. He quotes examples to prove as to how the investors feel worried.

But Antonio rejects all these speculations on the reasons behind his sadness. Rather he is confident that God is there to save his ships from the dangers of sea. He adds that his ships are at separate points and all of his property is not at risk at all.

Solanio now points out to Antonio that in his opinion he (Antonio) is in love. Antonio rejects that idea speculation also. Solanio advises his friend Antonio to remain happy to avoid sadness.

At that very time, Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano enter the street.

Bassanio is welcomed by Solanio: 

“Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,…”

After the exchange of a few words of courtesy, Solanio and Solarino leave the place. Gratiano also asks Antonio the reason for Antonio’s sadness. Antonio says:

“a stage

Where even one must play a part,

And mine a sad one.”

Gratiano finds space and utters a speech full of philosophical ideas. He says that he would prefer playing the role of a fool to keep himself happy even though his face becomes wrinkled due to continuous laughter. He would not let his heart cool down by groaning all the time. He also questions to his friend as to why a person whose blood is warm (young) should remain glum and sit like an old man, quiet and inactive like a statue. He should not sit feeling sleepy while his eyes are awake. HE should not allow himself to become a prey to jaundice by remaining peevish (irritable).

Gratiano tells Antonio that he is saying all that because he loves him (Antonio. Now Gratiano gives  example of some people who keep silence willingly and their faces look like the surfaces of a pond where a cream like material is formed due to stagnation in the water. Gratiano means to say that some people willingly wear an artificial face to look serious and wise. They do so due to their ego and showy nature. When they start speaking, they do not allow others to speak and call themselves ‘Sir Oracle’

Gratiano quotes another example of the people who are called wise because they remain quiet for most time. Gratiano says that he is quite sure that if they open their mouths to speak, they would utter non-sense. Their listeners would curse their ears for listening to such non-sense. Even the friends of such people call them fools.

After that Gratiano tells Antonio in simple words that he should not spoil his health by remaining sad. After that, Gratiano and Lorenzo leave the place. Now, Antonio and Bassanio are present there.

Bassanio’s comments on Gratiano’s garrulous nature. He says that it is very difficult to find meaning in Gratiano’s words. It is a difficult task to find two grains in two bushels (a unit of measurement of volume of dry products) of wheat chaff. One has to put in hard labour to find out meaning in his words.

As soon as Bassanio finishes his speech, Antonio asks him about the lady about whom he had promised to him to reveal as to who she was.

But before telling anything about the lady, Bassanio proceeds to make some background to take another loan from Antonio. He acquaints the reader with his extravagant nature. He also hints at the fact that he has already taken loan from Antonio.

“I don’t come to you now to ask that you Forgive my debts, because my chief concern Is to make good on these great debts Which my behavior, sometimes reckless And wasteful, has left me broke. To you, Antonio,… I owe the most, in money and in friendship, And, from your friendship, I have a guarantee To get rid of all my plots and intentions as to How to get clear all the debts I owe.

Bassanio tells Antonio that he has not come to him to make a request to waive off his previous loans. He also tells him about his chief concern to utilse his debt. He also admits that sometimes his behavior was reckless and wasteful about them and therefore he is financial crunch. He tells Antonio that he owes much to him in terms of money and friendship. Due to that friendship he thinks of revealing to him all the plans to clear all of his debt.

Antonio encourages Bassanio to say what he wants, but the latter does not come to the point and adds more words.

“When I was in school, when I had lost one arrow, I shot another one of identical length In an identical way, with more thoughtful care, To find the one I lost, and by risking both, I often Found both. I’m telling you about this childhood event, Because I say next is as pure and innocent. I owe you a lot, and, like a willful youth, I have lost what I owe you, but if you will please Lend me money in the identical way That you lent me the first money, I don’t doubt, As I’ll be more careful, to find both sums, Or I’ll bring your second loan back again And just owe you thankfully for the first….”

He says that he used to play with arrows in his childhood. Sometimes he lost an arrow. In that case he used to find out by using a trick. He would shoot another shaft with the same force in the same direction. It would fall at the same place where his first shaft had fallen and got lost. In that way, he was able to find out the lost arrow by putting another at risk. Thus Bassanio requests Antonio to grant him another loan and he promises to recover all other loan he has already taken from him.

Antonio says that he should not speak in a round-about way and encourages him to speak in plain words as to what he wants from him. He promises to do what he was capable of in that situation.

Bassanio starts speaking about Portia.

BASSANIO: In Belmont is a lady richly left, And she is fair, and, fairer than that word, Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages: Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued(170) To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth; For the four winds blow in from every coast Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;(175) Which makes her seat of Belmont, Colchos' strand, And many Jasons come in quest of her. O, my Antonio! had I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift,(180) That I should questionless be fortunate.

He says that there is a lady in Belmont, who has a rich legacy. He describes her beauty by calling her fairer than the word ‘fair’. She possesses wonderous virtues of head and heart. Sometimes he has received silent messages from her eyes and it is clear to him that she loves him. He tells Antonio her name i.e. Portia. He continues admiring her virtues and says that she is no less virtuous and beautiful than Portia, the ancient Roman Queen, Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife. The world also knows the Portia of Belmont because suitors from all over the world keep on coming to win her hand to marry her. Then he appreciates her golden locks of hair that enhance her beauty when they fall on her temples like golden fleece. In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece refers  to the fleece of a winged ram that had golden wool. The fleece is a symbol of authority and kingship. Colchos strand refers to the beach or shore of Colchis, an ancient country in Asia. Here Jasons also refers to Greek mythical heroes, who made a quest for golden fleece. Here Bassanio means to say that to win the hand of Portia is not so easy. Many suitors make their difficult journeys to reach Belmont to win Portia. Finally, Bassanio comes to the point and tells Antonio that he would also like to win Portia’s hand to marry her. But he needs money to raise his status to look a rival suitor for her.

ANTONIO: Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money, nor commodity To raise a present sum: therefore go forth, Try what my credit can in Venice do;(185) That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. Go, presently inquire, and so will I, Where money is; and I no question make, To have it of my trust, or for my sake.(190)

Antonio does not promise any amount of money to Bassanio. He says that all of his money was invested on ships. At that time, he has neither money nor any commodity for him. He further suggests to Bassanio that he can use his name and position as a security to any amount of loan he wishes to get. He expresses his good wishes for him. After that, both of them move on to find out as to who might give him a loan on his behalf.