Why In The World Would Antonio Lend Bassanio Money?

After having read the first act of The Merchant of Venice I have become very interested in the characters in this play and the relationships that they have with one another, and overall how these relationships will play out in the play’s dramatic action. The one relationship that interests me most is the relationship/friendship between Antonio and Bassanio. What interests me most about these two characters is why exactly did Antonio agree to take out a loan for Bassanio? It is made clear that Bassanio already owes Antonio a significant amount of money, which he has yet to pay back, so why then would Antonio agree to lend him more? Also, more striking to me was the fact that Antonio has no money to speak of right now because all of his money is wrapped up in risky business ventures. The shear thought that Antonio would even consider lending Bassanio money seems ludicrous to me because it could ruin Antonio (which I have a hunch will probably happen?). Therefore, based on the amount of risk that Antonio is taking on by agreeing to lend Bassanio money, it leads me to look for an ulterior motive on Antonio’s part. To me, Antonio just seems all too willing and quick to lend Bassanio the money, which leads me to question his motives. Is Antonio just trying to be a nice guy/ good friend? Does he have some secret or evil plan up his sleeve? Or maybe, and this may seem a little far stretched, does Antonio harbor some romantic feelings for Bassanio? All of these questions have been plaguing me throughout this first act and I hope that they will be answered.

The character of Portia also really caught my interest. What really interests me about Portia is how, at the time, she follows so rigidly the stipulations in her father’s will, even though he is already dead. It seems to me that this rigid following will not last long because as her scene progresses it is made clear that she is somewhat cunning when it comes to her inability to choose her suitor. When Portia makes the suggestion to I think get the drunkard German duke especially drunk so that he cannot choose the right chest. I think that Portia thinking this way maybe foreshadows her eventually finding a loophole in her father’s little task, so that she is able to choose her own husband (who will most likely be Bassanio?)

Finally the character of Shylock is really intriguing to me because I just can’t seem to decide if he is the villainous/evil character or not? I actually feel more sympathy towards the character of Shylock than hatred, and I would think that if he was indeed the villain that hatred or loathing would be the feeling that I should be experiencing? The character of Shylock, unlike some of Shakespeare’s other villainous characters, like Iago, doesn’t have any asides (so far), where he expresses his evil intentions to the audience etc. But maybe it’s just too early on in the play and maybe I will learn to hate Shylock as the play progresses? But I don’t really know… right now I just feel sorry for Shylock and the persecution that he has endured at the hands of Antonio and others.

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.

Initial Thoughts on The Merchant of Venice

This being the first time I’ve ever read The Merchant of Venice, the opening act has obviously left me with a few questions and plot devises I’d like to speculate on. I’m trying my hardest not to read ahead or otherwise spoil the plot for myself in some other way as to keep my blog entries at least somewhat entertaining, so here’s what I have so far:

Like most of the other Shakespearean comedies I have read, The Merchant of Venice introduces us to the major, defining plot point almost immediately. We are given the characters of Antonio, a wealthy merchant who attributes his fortune to sea-faring investments, and Bassanio, his longtime friend who has not only squandered his own fortune, but has relied on Antonio to help him out financially on a number of occasions. Nevertheless, Antonio loves and respects his friend, and barely hesitates to offer a solution for Bassanio’s most recent exploit (winning the hand of the wealthy and much sought-after Portia). However, Antonio’s investments are currently out at sea, and he does not have the means to aid Bassanio without a loan from a money-lender, in this case, Shylock the Jew. This relationship between Antonio and Bassanio, the wealthy and responsible character constantly bailing out his more compulsive though economically challenged best friend, is absolutely classic. I’m not completely sure where the concept began (maybe with Shakespeare), but it has since been repeated in countless low-budget romantic comedies in the last few years. It definitely caught my interest, at least. It also makes me wonder whether Antonio might have some stronger feelings for his erratic friend than he's letting on? Or maybe that's just implied? When Skylock proposes his condition of a pound of Antonio's flesh should the merchant's loan "break," Antonio is oddly determined to go through with the agreement, regardless of Bassanio's pleading. However, that might have more to do with Antonio's arrogance and dislike in regard to Shylock than his desire to help his friend. Like I said, this play is very new to me.

One last smaller comment I’d like to make is on the minor character, Graziano. Shakespeare made it a point to emphasize Graziano’s personality and manner of speech as very long-winded and sort of foolish. I feel like he would not have wasted as many lines focusing on this character flaw if it is not somehow involved in the plot a little later on. Right now, my guess is that his verbosity is either going to get him or his friends into some kind of trouble, or will be a continual source of comic relief (and frustration) in later acts. Thoughts?