THE OPENING ACT OF MOV

Understanding its significance

Questions to think about..

How does Act One serve as an effective opening to the play?

S1: Main characters

Antonio- Sad, worried, melancholy“ In sooth I know not why I am so sad”

Salerio, Solanio- Happy (represent lively, convivial life of Venice)Read the conversation between Antonio and Salerio

and Solanio!- They prophecise about Antonio’s ships meeting

disaster, expressing genuine concern but in a very tactless way

- Minor characters: help to shape the plot, provide audience with details of the situation

S1 : Main characters

Bassanio- appears to be pretty well-liked- surrounded by friends- tactless spendthrift as he enjoys merry-

making without knowledge of the heavy cost

Lorenzo

Gratiano- Ebullient, talkative

S1: Important relationships

Antonio & Salerio and Solanio not close- Antonio not opening up to them, not sharing

his worries

Antonio & Bassanio share a much closer relationship/friendship

- Antonio feeling more at ease, unafraid to talk about his feelings

- Bassanio confiding in Anotnio, turning to him for help, and Antonio readily agreed to do whatever it takes

S1: Setting

Venice- More harsh, sad mood- Business-related events happen- Male-dominated - Money and greed - Money-lending,

merchants, usury

S1: Key Elements of Plot

Introduction of main characters

- Antonio as a wealthy merchant, worried for some obscure reason, and that he is a member of a group of friends who arrive later (Bassanio, Lorenzo, Gratiano - who represent the lively life in Venice)

- Bassanio and his courtship of Portia (which is the major romantic plot)

S1: Key Elements of Plot

Through the presentation of sober, withdrawn Antonio, surrounded by the frolicesome language of Salerio and Solanio, Shakerspeare suggests two elements of the play:

- The real dangers that the merchant of Venice will face

- The world of youth and laughter (which will be the background to the love stories in MOV)

S1: Themes

Friendship and Love- Antonio’s friendship for Bassanio is noble, self-

sacrificing, generous and brave- Lines 135-139 “I pray you, good Bassanio..”- Lines 177-185

Imagery of commerce - “love” is spoken of in commercial and contractual terms by characters like Portia and Bassanio

- But such imagery was common in Shakespeare’s time and should not be criticised

S2: Main Characters

Portia- A woman of powerful character and wit,

perceptive about the people around her, quite able to hold her own in verbal combat with anyone

- Very important quality, given her subsequent importance in the development of the plot

Nerissa- Intelligent- Down-to-earth- A confidante of Portia

S2: Main Characters

Portia laments, “By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.”

This is similar to Antonio’s earlier lament of “In sooth I know not why I am so sad, it wearies me, you say it wearies you.”

Both are weary but express it in different ways as well as mean it differently

Antonio is weary although he does not know why, Portia is weary and she does know why: she must marry the one who gets the casket test correct irregardless of his personality

S2: Important Relationships

Relationship between Portia and Nerissa?

Confides in each other? Very open with each other?

S2: Setting

Belmont Language in Scene 2 is in prose form -

emphacise transition into different world, one with a brighter, livelier approach to life

Belmont contrasts with Venice, as later scenes prove that the serenity and love in Belmont can hardly be compared to the dangerous and scheming thoughts in Venice

S2: Key Elements of Plot

Outlines the device of the casket, which will provide the dramatic basis for the scenes in which the various suitors choose the choice of the proper casket for Portia’s hand in marriage

Introduces Portia- Hints at her brilliance, which she shows much

later, especially when she outwits Shylock

S2: Themes

Prejudice - National Stereotypes (Lines 38 onwards)

Neapolitan Prince Talks of his horse non-stop Young and foolish without grace (like a colt) Speaks only of his positive traits

Count Palatine Frowns (the “weeping philosopher”/does not smile when

“he hears merry tales”) Unmannerly

Monseiur Le Bon (France) Terribly active – tiresome excess of energy due to his “a-

capering” (notice Portia is actually mocking every suitor despite saying “it is a sin to be a mocker”)

S2: Themes

Falconbridge (England) They do not understand each other (language barrier) Handsome Unable to speak properly (like that of a picture)

Scottish lord Notice the scene of the fact that the Scot owes the

Englishman a box on the ear (a bond) and he has the Frenchman as a guarantor…compare that to how Bassanio wants to borrow the money from Shylock and Antonio stands as his guarantor

Violent (?) “swore to pay him again when he was able” Duke of Saxony’s nephew (Germany)

A drunkard thus violent Vile nature

Bassanio Portia clearly remembers him worthy of her praise but she

is not clear of his name

S3: Main Characters

Shylock- Jewish money-lender- Merciless- Revengeful

S3: Important Relationships

Hatred between Antonio and Shylock?

S3: Setting

Venice- Mood changes from previous scene- Talk changes from witty conversations

about men and courtship to the hard world of business, calculations and deceit

S3: Key Elements of Plot

Completes the exposition of one of the major plot lines - when Antonio agrees to Shylock’s bond (3000 ducats for a pound of flesh)

Introduces the inciting forceIntroduces Shylock (the most dramatic

figure in the play)Introduces major themes - prejudice

S3: Themes

Prejudice

- Anti-semitism:> Shylock’s “I hate him for He is a Christian”

speech (Lines 37-47)> How Antonio treated Shylock (Lines 102-

109, Line 123)> Antonio’s reaction (Lines 125-126)> Shylock’s merciless agreement

- Moral of the story: Prejudice breeds prejudice