Act I, Scene 1 - Study Questions

1. Antonio, the merchant of the title, is sad but tells us he does not know why. What 2 reasons do his friends offer for Antonio's sadness, and what is his response?
2. Upon the entrance of Bassanio and his companions, the friendship motif is raised in a backhanded fashion by Solanio and Salerio. What is the main point of their comments?
3. In Antonio's comment about the world being a stage, how does he explain his sadness?
4. A major theme, the relationship between money and love, is first raised by Bassanio in the line which begins, "I owe the most, in money and in love..." What is Bassanio's point in this comment?
5. What is Bassanio's plan for getting money to pay off his debts? What is Antonio's response?