Q = so taken 411 thou shalt = F. Q = shalt thou 414 home with me = Q. F = with me home

5.1.3 noise = Q. F = nnyse 32 SH STEPHANO = Ed. F = Mes. 41 is = Q. F = it returned = Q. F = rnturn’d 44 us = Q. F = vs vs 56 Sweet soul = Ed. F prints as last words of Lancelet’s speech 58 Stephano = Q2. F = Stephen pray = F. Q = I pray 72 it in = Q. F = in it 89 time = F. Q = the time 164 the hour = F. Q = your hour 168 But … know = F. Q = no God’s my Iudge 233 And by = F. Q = For by 264 thy = F. Q = his 273 Pardon = F. Q = Pardon me 287 but e’en now = F. Q = even but now

SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS

ACT 1 SCENE 1

Lines 1–115: Antonio confesses he is sad but cannot explain the reason. Salerio suggests he is worried about his ships, currently at sea, but Antonio says that he is not concerned about his merchandise. Salerio therefore suggests that it is because Antonio is “in love,” establishing a link between two main themes: commerce and love. They are interrupted by Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano. Solanio and Salerio take their leave, joking that some “worthier company” has arrived, introducing the motif of “worth” (both of goods and people). Gratiano observes that Antonio looks unwell and Antonio’s meta-theatrical response is that the world is a “stage where every man must play a part” and that his is “a sad one.” Gratiano urges him not to put on sadness merely to seem wise, establishing the themes of disguise/appearance versus reality.

Lines 116–188: Bassanio observes that Gratiano “speaks an infinite deal of nothing” and that “His reasons are two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff,” images that reinforce the play’s concerns with quantity and value. Antonio questions Bassanio about the lady he is in love with. Bassanio’s response is elliptical, focusing instead on his lack of fortune and need to borrow money from Antonio, despite already being in debt to him “in money and in love,” further reinforcing the link between these two themes. Bassanio describes Portia of Belmont, “a lady richly left,” who has inherited a large fortune on her father’s death, and who is “fair and, fairer than that word, / Of wondrous virtues.” This raises the motif of “fairness,” in terms of both beauty and justice. Bassanio needs money to court Portia. Antonio explains that his “fortunes are at sea” but will stand security if Bassanio borrows money.

ACT 1 SCENE 2

In Belmont, Portia is complaining of being “aweary of this great world,” echoing Antonio in the previous scene.