Antonio clearly does not like Shylock. “An evil soul. Is like a villain. This is unlike Antonio’s unusual attitude. We know this because of the way he treats the other characters that we have met. Shylock tells us some of the things that Antonio has done to him in the past. He called him a “Misbeliever a cut-throat dog” and Antonio has “Spat upon my Jewish gabardine. Antonio appears to be a racist. Shylock then says, that “the inverse kindness.” Then Shylock replies, “ this kindness I show.” Shylock will lend the money to Antonio.
This positive feel is where we leave the situation at the end of act 1.
I will now write about Bassanio. Bassanio is first introducted with a small group of friends, who try to cheer up Antonio. “Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say when.”
As soon as Gratiano and Lorenzo leave, Bassanio quickly gets to the point of this meeting. The meeting is about Bassanio asking to lend money off of Antonio. Despite Bassanio already being in debt. “Tis not unknown you, Antonio, how much I disabled mine estate.” Antonio has already lent Bassanio money in the past, “to you Antonio I owe the most in money and in love.” Antonio will help Bassanio. “My purse, my person my extremist, lie all unlocked to your occasions.” Bassanio thinks that if he gets some money back and pay off his debts. Antonio was a very good friend to help Bassanio again.
Bassanio first mentions Portia as a “Lady richly left.” This shows that Bassanio has a lot of interest for money. He refers to money before the fact that she is “fain” he says to Antonio that if he had money he would be able to be successful, “to hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift. That I should question less be fortune.” Antonio hasn’t got any money to lend Bassanio because all his money is in the ships. Antonio says, “Try what my credit can do in Venice.” He tells Bassanio to go to his moneylender in Venice.
As soon as Bassanio meets him he tries to be polite to Shylock. “If it pleases you to dine with us. ”Shylock is not impressed because he is a Jew and doesn’t eat pork. “To smell pork: to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the evil into.” When Antonio enters Bassanio sucks up to him, “This Signior Antonio.” When Shylock nearly agrees to lend Antonio the money Bassanio is happy, “Shylock, do you hear?” When Shylock finally agrees to lend them the money Bassanio is cautious, “You shall not seal to such bond for me: I’ll rather dwell in my necessity.” Bassanio feels that Shylock is a villains, “I like not fair terms and a villains mind.” Bassanio isn’t sure weather or not he wants the money now he knows the terms. This shows us that Bassanio has true feelings of friendship for Antonio and doesn’t want to put their life in any danger.
With this negative feel from Bassanio we leave them at Act 1.
I will now write about Shylock. Shylock is a Jew and he is a moneylender. Antonio and Bassanio go to him wishing to borrow money. Antonio and Bassanio want “three thousand ducats.” Shylock knows a lot about Antonio. Shylock wishes to speak with Antonio. “ May I speak with Antonio?” Bassanio asks Shylock to dine with him. Shylock is offended because he is a Jew and doesn’t like to “Smell pork.” Shylock says that he would, “ buy with you, sell with you, walk with you,” but Shylock will not “eat with you, drink with you nor pray with you.”
Now Antonio enters. Shylock doesn’t like Antonio, “I hate him for he is a Christian.” Shylock also doesn’t like him because he lends money out “gratis”. Shylock agrees to lend them the money but he hasn’t got the money. Shylock will get the money and will lend them the money. “ I cannot instantly come up the gross of three thousand ducats,” but “A wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, will furnish me.” Antonio takes business off of Shylocks so he says, “ Albeit I neither lend nor borrow by taking nor by giving excess.” Shylock is shocked and can’t believe it. “ But hear you, methought you said, you neither nor lend upon advantage.” Shylock keep repeating the amount, “ three thousand ducats,” because he has the power and keeps taunting Antonio. Shylock says that in Rialto Antonio rated him as a “misbeliever, a cut-throat dog” and now Antonio needs the help of Shylock. Now Shylock changes, he is now being kind, “I would be friends with you, and have you love.” Shylock tells him, “Forget the shames that you have stained with me.” Shylock will lend them the money, but only on one condition. The condition is that is they do not repay him on, “such a day” then they will have to “forfeit”. They will have to cut one pound of flesh, of any part of the body this s what Shylock wants. “ An equal pound of fair flesh, to be cut off and taken, in what part of the body pleaseth me.” Bassanio is now being cautious, but Antonio is confident. Shylock prays to “Father Abram,” and he hopes he is doing no wrong. “ I pray you wrong me not.” Shylock now exits the play. Bassanio thinks that Shylock is a villain, “I like not fair terms and a villains mind.”
This vindictive feel is where we leave Shylock at the end of Act 1.
I will now write about Portia. Portia is a rich beautiful lady who lives in Belmont. He father has died and wanted her to marry who ever chose the right casket. There were three caskets one as made of gold; one from silver and the other was made from lead. The correct casket had a portrait of Portia inside it. Each one of the suitors that chose the wrong casket had to promise that they would immediately leave and not tell anyone, which casket that they chose.
At the beginning of this scene Portia is talking with her lady-in-waiting, Nerissa. They discuss the terms of Portia’s father’s will. Portia cannot chose who she wants to marry nor can she refuse. “ I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike.” Nerissa reminds Portia that her father was a good man. “Your father was ever virtuous.” However the first suitor that came was “the Napoleon Prince.” Portia didn’t like this guy because he talked about his horse too much. “He doth nothing but talk of his horse.” Next came the “County Palatine”. Portia didn’t like him much because he frowned too much. “ He doth nothing but frown.” Next came the “French Lord, Monsieur Le Bon.” Portia didn’t like him because this man is every man of no-man. “God mad him, and therefore let him pass for a man.” Next was the young Baron of England, “Falconbridge.” Portia couldn’t understand him because he didn’t speak the same language. “He understands not me, nor I him.” Next was the “Scottish Lord.” Portia didn’t like him because he couldn’t look after himself. “ He borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him back, we he was able.” Next was the young German, “ the Duke of Saxony’s nephew.” Portia doesn’t like him because he is an alcoholic. “In the afternoon, when he was drunk.” Nerissa tells Portia that if she chooses the right basket, and if she refuses to marry him, she would be refusing her father’s will. Portia thinks that she could attract him to the wrong casket. “ Set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket.” All the Lords left without having a go. “ You need not fear, lad, the having any of these Lords.” They have returned home. “ To return to their home and to trouble you will no more suit.” Portia is pleased that they have all gone. “ I pray God grant them a fair departure.”
Nerissa reminds Portia of a “veterian, scholar and a soldier, that came hither.” Portia quickly replies, “ Yes, yes! It was Bassanio.” The speed with which she reacts suggests to the audience her attraction towards Bassanio a servant comes and informs Portia that “four strangers seek for you.” It means more suitors. The “Prince of Morocco,” is one of them. Portia doesn’t like the colour of the skin of the Moroccan. Portia appears to be racist. “If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather shive me than rive me.”
In this predicament is where we leave Portia at the end of act 1.
I thought that the play was good and the best part is the terms that Shylock sets for Antonio and Bassanio. The predicament that Peoria is in is good as well because she can’t refuse or accept to marry anyone. So I will read the rest of the play to see what happens.