The Merchant of Venice Act I Scene I

The Merchant of Venice Act I Scene I

GRATIANO

75You look not well, Signor Antonio.

You have too much respect upon the world.

They lose it that do buy it with much care.

Believe me, you are marvelously changed.

GRATIANO

You don’t look well, Antonio. You’re taking things too seriously. People with too much invested in the world always get hurt. I’m telling you, you don’t look like yourself.

Q. 1 Who accompanies Bassanio? Who is called Antonio's most noble kinsman? Who bids farewell to Antonio?

Ans. Bassanio is accompanied by Gratiano and Lorenzo. Bassanio is called Antonio's most noble kinsman. Salanio and Salarino bid  Antonio farewell.

Q. 2 What does Antonio say to Salanio and Salarino at Bassanio's approach?

Ans. At Bassanio's approach, Antonio says to Salarino and Salanio that they are very valuable to him and he repeats them very much, but now he thinks that they have some urgent work to do, so they should take the opportunity of the arrival of these friends to leave him.

Q. 3 What does Lorenzo say to Bassanio before leaving him?What does he request him?

Ans. Before leaving Bassanio, Lorenzo says that he has met Antonio, so he and Gratiano  should also take his leave and request him to keep in mind where they must at the dinner time.

Q. 4 Whose arrival give Salarino and Salanio a pretext for making a rather hasty departure.? What role does Gratiano take on?

Ans. The arriaval of Bassanio , Gratiano and Lorenzo give Salarino and Salanio a pretext for making a rather hasty departure. Gratiano , then takes himself a role of lecturing Antonio in a humorous way on the subject of his melancholy.