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.
