The Merchant of Venice Act-1 Scene-1 (Lines 1 - 21) Notes

The Merchant of Venice Act-1 Scene-1 (Lines 1 - 21) Notes 

I) In sooth, I know not.........................................much ado to know myself.

1. Where are Antonio and his friends? What does Antonio say about his

sadness?

Antonio and his friends are in a street in Venice. Antonio says that his

sadness makes him depressed and dull. He further says that he is yet to learn about

the origin and nature of his sadness.

2. Give the meaning of:

(a) whereof it is born:

(b) a want-wit.

(c) That I have much ado to know myself:

(a) whereof it is born: how it originated.

(b) a want-wit : a dull person.

(c) That I have much ado to know myself: That I have much difficulty in

recognising myself.

3. What reason does Salarino give as the probable cause of Antonio's

melancholy?

Salarino tells Antonio that he is sad because his mind is preoccupied with

his ships filled with cargo, which are out at sea.

4. State in your own words the scene on the ocean as described by Salarino

when Antonio's ships were sailing?

Salarino compares Antonio's ships sailing on the waves with the great lords

and wealthy citizens, who look down on lesser men as they walk along the street.

He says that compared to smaller ships, Antonio's ships move swiftly on the sea

with their canvas sails and look like grand spectacles or pageants of the sea.

5. The play begins in an atmosphere of melancholy. Why do you think that

Antonio is presented as a melancholic and passive character?

Antonio is presented as a melancholic and passive character mainly for

three reasons. Firstly, by portraying Antonio as a whimsical person, who is least

bothered about the consequences of his actions, justifies his signing the bond-

agreement. Secondly, Antonio's melancholy creates a tragic atmosphere suitable

for the play. Thirdly, Antonio's melancholy creates a sense of mystery for the

audience.

II) Believe me, sir.................................................... Would make me sad.

1) Where would Salanio's attention be if he had business ventures abroad? Why

would he be 'Plucking the grass'? What else would he be doing in that context?

If Salanio had business ventures abroad, his thoughts would be fixed on the

dangers to his ventures and methods of securing them. He would be plucking the

blades of grass and casting them in the air to see which way the wind blew, to see

if it was blowing in a direction favourable to the course of his ships or not.

Further, he would look into maps for harbours, channels and open road-steads

near to the shores where his ships could be anchored in case of need.

2) What would make Salanio fear some danger to his ventures? Give two

examples from the opening scene to show how some objects remind Salarino of

the danger to the ships.

Every object that might suggest disaster to his business ventures would

undoubtedly make Salanio feel sad. Two examples which reminded Salarino of

the danger to his ships were: (a) The act of cooling his soup by blowing on it,

reminded him of the stormy winds at sea causing terrible damages to his ships.

(b) The sandy hour-glass reminded him of the richly laden vessels wrecked on

the sandy shore.

3)Give the meaning of: Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind.

Plucking of grass and casting them in the air to see which way the wind

blew.

4)In spite of the danger to his ships, why is Antonio not worried about his

financial security?

Despite danger to his ships, Antonio is not worried about his financial

security because his business is neither dependent on any one ship nor on any

single location or commercial transactions of the current year.

5) What light does the opening scene throw on the danger that the sea could

pose to ships?

The opening scene describes the possible dangers that the sea could pose

to ships such as strong winds, dangerous shallow waters, sand banks and

dangerous rocks.