William Shakespeare's Works/Comedies/The Merchant of Venice/Act 1

Scene 1 Antonio is very depressed, although he does not know why, three idea's are raised by his friends; Salarion, Solanio and Gratiano. Bassanio his friend* is in debt, to Antonio and many others, he tells Antonio of a plan to marry a rich woman(Portis) although he needs money to get there and compete with the other suiters. Antonio is willing to fund Bassanio's expedition to Belmont it will cost 3,000 ducat or around 770,000$ in todays money“Thou gaudy gold”: Wealth in The Merchant of Venice https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/877/402, but must try to borrow money from Shylock to do so as his money is on ships(in the form of cargo) and doesn't have liquid cash. *(Antonio and Bassanios relationship or Antonios feeling towards Bassanios it a topic of discussion. see the wikipedia artacle) scene 1: key quotes (please note that you will not need all these quotes, it is to give you options on what to study) Antonio's sadness - "In sooth I know not why I am so sad." idea one for the sadness - "Your mind is tossing on the ocean, There where your argosies with portly sail" Antonio's responds - "Believe me, no. I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted" idea two for the sadness - "Why then you are in love." idea three for the sadness - "You have too much respect upon the world." Antonio's responds - "I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one." Bassanio's money problems - "’Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have disabled mine estate" Bassanio's debt and love for Antonios - "To you, Antonio, I owe the most in money and in love" Antonio's love for Bassanio - "be assured My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie all unlocked to your occasions." Bassanio's plan - "In Belmont is a lady richly left, [...] I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift That I should questionless be fortunate!" Portia's beauty "And she is fair, and, fairer than that word," Antonio's lack of liquidity - "Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money nor commodity To raise a present sum." Antonio's loan offer - "Therefore go forth: Try what my credit can in Venice do" Scene 2 Portia and her waiting-gentlewoman Nerissa are talking about the lottery to chose her husband that her father arranged before his death. the lottery involves picking one of 3 cases(one gold, one silver and one lead) she goes through the suiters one by one critising them all expeted Bassanio, who she makes the comment "I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise" scene 2: key quotes (please note that you will not need all these quotes, it is to give you options on what to study) portia talking about how hypoculism - "I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching." the lottery - "the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead," how portia can't chose her husman - "O, me, the word “choose”! I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike." descipton of Portia father - "Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations." Portia thoughts on the Neapolitan prince - "he doth nothing but talk of his horse" Portia thoughts on the County Palatine - "He doth nothing but frown" Portia thoughts on the French lord - "he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan’s, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man." Portia's thoughts on baron of england - "You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him" Portia's thoughts on the Scottish lord - "That he hath a neighborly charity in him," Portia's thoughts on the german - " Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober, and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk. When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst he is little better than a beast." Portia's thoughts on Bassanio - "I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise." Scene 3 Shylock agrees to lend money to Antonio - but he demands an unusual bond. if he fails to repay it, shylock is allowed to get a pound of flesh from anywhere he choses, this almost would mean curthenly Antonio's death. shylock also recounty Antonio's misdeads to him, Antonio is not sorry and even says he would do it again. he leands to money for 3 months. Antonio and shylock get into a argument over relighn and intersted. scene 3: key quotes (please note that you will not need all these quotes, it is to give you options on what to study) the amount and time frame - "Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound." 1st reason shylock hates antonio - "I hate him for he is a Christian," 2nd reason shylock hates antonio - "He lends out money gratis and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice." 3rd reason shylock hates antonio - "He hates our sacred nation," where shylock gets the money - "I cannot instantly raise up the gross Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, Will furnish me." Antonio respons - "the devil can cite scripture for his purpose" Antonio's mistreathment of shylock - "you call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, and spit upon my jewish gaberdine" shylocks coment of the mistreathment - "should i not say 'hath a dog money? is it possible a cur can lend three shousand ducats?'" Antonio is not sorry for what he did and will do it again - "I am as like to call thee so again, To spet on thee again, to spurn thee, too." Antonio idea for why shylock should loan - "but lend it rather to thine enemy, who, if he break, thou mayst with better face exact the penalty" the bonds forfeit - "let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me" shylocks though on the bond - "A pound of man’s flesh taken from a man Is not so estimable, profitable neither, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, To buy his favor I extend this friendship" bassanio distrust - "i like no fair terms and a villain's mind" .