Write an essay on the opening scene of 'The Merchant of Venice'.

Write an essay on the opening scene of ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Discuss the dramatic significance of the opening scene of ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Bring out the importance of the first scene of ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

The opening scene strikes the key note of the play, ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Account for Antonio’s sadness in the opening scene.

Ans.

The Merchant of Venice‘ is a very entertaining romantic comedy by the great dramatist William Shakespeare. The opening scene of any drama is significant as it commences the exposition of the plot. Similarly the opening scene of “The Merchant of Venice’ is significant.

It introduces Antonio and Bassanio, two of the four major characters (the other two being Portia and Shylock) and the third is spoken about-Portia, the lady of Belmont.

The scene introduces Antonio in a sad and depressed mood. He does not know the cause of his sadness. But he tell that this sadness has impaired his faculties and has made him “such a want-wit”. When his friends Salarino and Salanio try to cheer him up he tells, in a resigned manner and in a philosophic tone, that it is his fate to be sad. He compares this world with a stage and the human beings actors each playing the role assigned to him. The role assigned to Antonio is a sad role. He feels that no amount of efforts can change his lot. This view, which has somehow taken roots in his head and heart; has resulted in his melancholy mood and fatalist outlook on life. It is also the cause of his passivity. Antonio does not make any effort to save himself from the clutches of the vile and vicious Jew. On the contrary he has resigned himself to his fate and desires the court to pronounce the judgement so that his ordeal may be over soon.

Antonio lacks the spirit of adventure and dynamism. This weakness in his character becomes evident from the very beginning – from his conversation with Salarino and Salanio and characters the course the play is going to take.

The key not is the course, the subsequent events are going to take have their roots in this scene.

Antonio’s subsequent problem which might have claimed his life, but for the heroic battle fought by Portia on his behalf has its beginnings in the Melancholy, sadness and lack of enterprise and dynamism manifest in the opening scene.

Similarly, the seeds of the two major stories, the Bond Story and the Casket Story are sown in this scene.

Antonio’s love for Bassanio is also shown here and it leads to Antonio walking into the vicious clutches of Shylock, the Jew and to sign the bond and set the Bond Story in motion the moment Bassanio makes the demand.

Similarly, the moment Bassanio outlines his plan to visit Belmont for Portia’s sake the seeds of the Caskets Story are sown.

Thus we can safely assert that the opening scene of The Merchant of Venice’ has great dramatic significance as it strikes the key note of the play.