Amy's first responce to "The Merchant of Venice

After reading act one of The Merchant of Venice I’m having many different thoughts ad questions. First, like Antonio, I am confused by where his sadness originates from. The idea put forth by his friends Salerio and Solanio seems like a probable reason to sulk. Antonio later tells Bassanio that he is unable to lend him any kind of money because all of his money is being used for an investment of ships. Personally, if all of my life savings were to be invested in a ‘risky’ business, I too would feel some kind of sorrowful emotions. It’s almost like investing your whole life savings into the stock market, or going to a casino with your life savings and hoping to make a good winning. . I was a bit confused though when Antonio said that his business investments did not depend on the safe passage of the ships. It makes me wonder what kind of business Antonio is into, and I am curious to possible find this out as I continue to read. When Antonio’s friend Graziano says “you have to much respect upon the world” (1.1.74) I thought to myself that I do would have a deep anxiety about business if my life savings was invested in a safe place. But then again I had to remember that according to Antonio, the safe passing of his ships wasn’t the key factor in his business investments.

Another idea for Antonio’s sadness was put forth by his friend Solanio. He said that Antonio is sad because he is in love. At first, I read this and thought why would being in love make a person so sad? I continued to think and reflect on my own life, and soon realize why being in love could bring on such sadness. Maybe Antonio is in love, but the feeling is not mutual. Maybe the person Antonio is in love with is already married, or can not just marry who she chooses. In all of the works of Shakespeare I have read, I’ve found that most of the time the women characters are controlled by a male figure, like a father choosing who he wants to marry his daughter like we see is A Midsummer Nights Dream. I found it very interesting the arrangements Portia's father made to find the husband for his daughter even though he was deceased. To me it seemed like a game to Portia's father.

Finally, I’d like to comment a little bit on the (from what I can tell) main character of the play, Shylock. I wasn’t expecting the nasty name calling that Shylock remembered Antonio calling him and the things that Antonio did to Shylock. Such treatment and racism really bothers me, no matter what time frame it comes from. The act of racism is one topic that makes me sick. I just don’t understand how a human begin could treat another human begin so poorly. I was even more shocked that Shylock continued to go through with the loan after recalling all of these horrible accounts.