Merchant of Venice Act 1

1. The setting of the story is Venice, Italy sixteenth century. They are all close friends that care for each other. They don't let their friends be sad. They help them cheer up and talk to them. They are Italian.

2. Antonio is a wealthy merchant in Venice that is very depressed. He struggles to find out why he is depressed and his friends help him to discover why he is so sad.

3. Bassanio asks Antonio to travel beside him on his journey to Portia's house. He also asks Antonio to lend him money to help win over Portia. Bassanio likes Portia and he wants to win her over with Antonio's money.

4. Portia decides that if a man she likes and her father likes doesn't meet her, she will die a virgin with no man worthy enough for her. All the men her father approves are not good enough for Portia, all of them with major flaws.


1. Portia's choosing of her man is out of her hands because even if she chooses a man that she likes, her father also has to approve. His decision overrides whatever Portia thinks.

2. Shylock is a Jew that lends money to people if they pay him back and pay usury or interest. He is important in the story because Bassanio is borrowing money from Shylock and if he doesn't, Antonio and Bassanio's body could get chopped up

3. The agreement that Shylock and Antonio agree on is that Anotonio and Bassanio will pay back the money with usury in three months and if they fail to do so, Shylock gets to choose what to cut off of their bodies.

4. Shylock is hesitant with the deal with Antonio because he thinks that Antonio's money will get stolen on the way back to Antonio from various different countries. Shylock is worried that this will happen and he will not get his money back. Also Shylock is a Jew and Antonio is a Christian. They are from different religions so they do not get along well.

5. I would trust Antonio because he ensured Shylock that his money would get back to him before the time he has to pay the money back. Also, Antonio would not try to pull something because he does not want anything chopped off of his body. With the consequences at stake, the money would be very important for Antonio to pay back.