The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

A merchant in Venice, Antonio, voices his concern over his melancholy. Antonio cannot find a reason for it and his friends, Salarino and Solanio, tell him that it must be his concern over his ships that he has sailing to various ports. Antonio tells them that it is not his ships, as he does not have all his wealth placed on one ship alone. Losing one ship will not ruin him financially. The men decide that Antonio must be in love, but Antonio denies that he is lovesick.

Antonio, Salarino, and Solanio run into Gratiano, Lorenzo, and Bassanio. Bassanio is Antonio's cousin. After Salarino and Solanio exit, Gratiano points out that Antonio looks sad, but Antonio tells him that the people are just players on the world's stage, and he must play his sad part. Gratiano advises Antonio to not become curmudgeonly. Gratiano and Lorenzo then take their leave.

Antonio asks Bassanio about his new love. Bassanio tells Antonio of his poor finances and asks Antonio to borrow money from him to woo his love, Portia, who is a rich heiress. Antonio tells him that he cannot lend him the money directly, as it is all tied up in his shipping ventures, but he promises to guarantee any loan that Bassanio can find.