The Merchant of Venice-Act I Scene I-Summary & Analysis

Summary in Brief: The Merchant of Venice

About William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare was the greatest dramatist of the world. He wrote great dramas that are studied all over the world. Scholars write thesis on them and also make researches on his life and works.

Characters in the First & second scene of the Play:

We meet the following characters in the opening scene, that is, Act I Scene (i) of the play: The Merchant of Venice.

1. Anotino: Antonio is a Vatican merchant, who signs a bond as a guarantee to the loan taken by Bassanio from Shylock, a Jewish money lender.

2. Bassanio: Bassanio is a gentleman who is Antonio’s dear friend and kinsman. Bassanio’s love for Portia, a wealthy lady from Belmonte, creates a very difficult situation for Antonio.

3. Gratiano: Gratiano is Bassanio’s friend and he takes the latter to Belmont. He is a hard critic of Shylock also.

4.     Portia is a wealthy heiress to Belmont. Her father died after he had made a will in which he binds his daughter Portia by a vow regarding the choice of her husband by means of a lottery, that is, choosing the right casket that contains Portia’s portrait. Her role in the play is of utmost important.

5.    Nerissa - Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante.

6.    Salarino is a friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo.

7.    Solanio also remains with Salarino

8. Prince of Morocco: He is a prince, who also takes part in choosing the right casket to win Portia as his life-partner.

 

Act I: Sc. (i)

The scene (i) of Act I opens with Antonio conversing with his friends Solanio and Salarino. Antonio is a rich merchant of Venice, but today, he is upset. He is unable to find out the reason for his somber (sad) mood. His friends Solarino and Solanio try to guess and tell him several possible reasons for it. They think that Antonio’s ships might be the cause of his sadness. Solanio also says that Antonio might have fallen in love and that might be the reason for his gloomy mood.  But, Antonio rejects all of these reasons for his sadness.

In the meantime, Antonio’s other friends: Lorenzo, Gratiano and Bassanio also reach there. Their conversation in the beginning also centres round Antonio’s sadness.

After some Lorenzo and Gratiano leave the place and now Antonio and Bassanio, Antonio’s very close friend, remain there. We come to know that Bassanio also reveals his purpose to visit Belmonte to try his luck at winning Portia’s hand to make her his wife. He wants to get a loan from Antonio so as to raise his status to take part in choosing the right casket to marry Portia.

But Antonio shows his inability to give him a loan because he has already invested his money in buying goods and sending them to different corners of the world by ships. His ships are on the sea-way to reach their destination. Antonio also suggests to Bassanio that he could help him borrow money from someone in Venice on his behalf.

After this, both of them leave the place.

Critical analysis: After reading this scene, we come to know that Antonio is a melancholy character. He is unable to find out the real reason for his sadness. We also meet other characters like Solanio, Solarino, Lorenzo and Gratiano and Bassanio in this scene. Gratiano talks too much and, in Bassanio’s views, it is very difficult to find meaning in his words. Bassanio is Antonio’s fast friends.