Unanswered Questions From Act I of The Merchant of Venice

After reading Act I of The Merchant of Venice, there are a couple things I have been left to wonder about. First, I am curious to learn more about the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio, and if there is something major that has happened between them that would have made Antonio so devoted to helping out Bassanio. I wonder, like Lisa previously said, if there is something Antonio is expected in exchange for his help, or what he intends to get out of this deal.

I was a little confused about how the method of choosing a suitor for Portia with the three chests works, and hope that we see more about this in future acts. I also would like to find out more about how Portia feels about Bassanio, as she did not seem as disgusted and annoyed with him as she had felt about the other suitors discussed. I want to see if they will end up together, or if Bassanio will have to choose a chest and if so, will he choose correctly?

I also want to learn more about Shylock because he is an interesting character. He is extremely stereotyped and shown to us in a negative light. I would like to see how his character is going to be developed further, and if these stereotypes will change or not. I am also wondering if he is supposed to be the villain of the play or if he will somehow end up being someone for the reader to sympathize with in later acts. I want to see if and how the character of Shylock is going to be used to convey a larger message about anti-Semitism in the play.

One more thing I would like to find out would be what is going to happen to the money Shylock has lent to Antonio-- if it will be repaid on time, and if not, if Shylock will actually go through with what they agreed on and take a pound of Antonio’s flesh as the penalty for failing to repay the money.