In most Shakespearean plays, the main characters end up paired off towards the end. However, Antonio is never romantically involved with a lover at any point in the play. The question arises that if Antonio is in love with Bassanio, why is he literally risking life and limb so that the latter can seduce someone else?
A main topic in the first act relates to the loan that Bassanio needs to seduce Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. He is infatuated with her and hopes to win her heart. However, Portia has already obtained many other wealthy suitors seeking her hand in marriage. Her father has arranged a test to check the suitability of her husband to be. The potential suitors have to choose one of three caskets, one containing gold, one containing silver and one of lead. Within one of the caskets lies a picture of Portia and when a suitor chooses the correct casket he will therefore win her hand in marriage. Before any man may chose one of the caskets, he first must go to the temple and swear an oath that if he doesn’t win Portia’s hand in marriage after picking the wrong casket, he will never marry again. In scene two, Portia describes all the suitors that have come before her and explains how none of them have been satisfactory. For example, she describes the , the Palatine count as being too serious and subdued –
“He doth nothing but frown, as who should say...he hears merry tales and smiles not.”
However, when it comes to discussing Bassanio, Portia hints that she does still remember him and mentions that he was “worthy of praise”. This suggests to the audience that there may have been a certain amount of chemistry between them and that Portia is attracted to Bassanio. Even though this does not suggest love in a strong sense, it is apparent to the audience that something may develop between the two characters. Often in Shakespeare’s plots, two characters that are very unlikely to be together fall in love after overcoming hardships in their relationships. What adds to the romance between Portia and Bassanio is how Belmont is described separately from Venice which almost makes it seem like a different far away land. There are many fairytales that have been around for centuaries telling of rich princesses stranded alone in a castle in a land far, far away. The imagery of this only enhances the audience’s imagination of the relationship building and makes it seem much more romantic.
In act one, the main family relationship that we are introduced to is between Portia and her father. Her father is in fact dead but the love that Portia felt for her father is still affecting her decisions. It was within his will that he explained the procedure for Portia’s husband to be found and Portia feels bound to this. She is clearly unhappy with the arrangement because she cannot chose her husband herself and she has not taken to any of the possible suitors in the least. Nerrissa, Portia’s maid, reminds her that her father was a holy man and that “holy men at their death have good inspirations” meaning that his idea is sensible and she should follow it even if it seems difficult. Father and daughter relationships are often very complex and we are told little about the relationship Portia shared with her father whilst he was alive. However, family love is unconditional love and Portia does agree with Nerrissa, that she should honour his wishes as remembrance to him.
The theme of hate is most centered around racial conflicts between people of the two different religions that live side by side in Venice. Christians and Jews have always had difficulties living in harmony throughout history, there is even evidence of this in the bible. Shylock is a money lender in the play which fits with the history of Jews having this occupation. It is suggested that some of the hatred between Christians and Jews arose from the Jewish money lenders providing loans so Christians who, when not being able to return the money, resented them. Jews were a useful scapegoat for disasters to be blamed on and this opinion spread and turned to conflict between the two religions. Other examples in more recent history such as the Holocaust have also strengthened the divide. Even though the play was written over three hundred and forty years before the Holocaust and the attempted genocide of the Jewish race, the play can sometimes be looked at from a different perspective and can be seen as disrespectful towards Jews. For example, some schools do not study the play because of the racist elements in the play. The Merchant of Venice is thought to have been written between 1596 and 1598. At the time in England, there wasn’t a great amount of anti-Semitism. However, there were other evil Jewish characters being written about into plays and books such as “The Unfortunate Traveler” by Thomas Nashe (1594).
The hostility between Jews and Christians is presented through Antonio and Shylock’s relationship in the first act. Their hatred for each other has not come from a particular action or event but a build up of tensions. Antonio despises Shylock because he is Jewish and Antonio hates the Jewish religion. He also thinks that lending money to be repaid with interest is an unfair and greedy method of making money. He believes money should be lent between friends and repaid back in trust. Shylock dislikes Antonio for a reason which is seemingly linked; Antonio lends money out gratis (free) to the public in Venice which means Shylock loses business because borrowers would obviously rather repay a loan without interest. Shylock also hates Antonio because of the way Antonio treats Jews, especially himself. Some examples of this behavior that Shylock gives are being spat on and being treated like a dog.
“For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe,
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gabardine”
There are also more subtle hints of racism in the act that aren’t so clearly portrayed. For example, when Portia is meeting her possible suitors she meets Morocco, a coloured prince. There are a few references made to his skin colour, for example,
“mislike me not for my complexion”
Portia also remarks about “his devilish” skin colour and says that she is looking for a suitor more similar to her in culture and race.
When negotiating the conditions for the repayment of the loan, Shylock offers to provide the loan of 3000 ducats and a repayment date. As a guarantee for Shylock, the men agree that if the money is not paid back within the agreed period, Shylock is entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Due to the date being three months after his ships are due to return to port, thus bringing him money, the conditions are agreed to. The pact itself represents hatred and maliciousness between the characters. The way Shylock phrases the terms is very manipulative and scheming. It shows the audience that he has a greater plan than he is making out and essentially wants to kill Antonio but has to do it in a subtle way to avoid getting in trouble with the law. Due to the terms of agreement being signed, if the money is not repaid, Shylock is legally allowed to kill Antonio.
Act One in The Merchant of Venice is a quick moving act that introduces all the characters and situations to the audience at a rapid pace. The conflicting themes of love and hate are both presented in different ways and circumstances between all the characters. The two themes create tensions and atmosphere for the audience to relate to and engage with. Both are equally important to intrigue the audience into wanting to watch or read the play further.