Merchant of Venice
1. DESCRIBE ANTONIO'S STATE OF MIND IN ACT 1 SCENE 1.
2. HOW DOES SALARINO DESCRIBE ANTONIO'S SHIP?
3. WHAT WOULD SALANIO DO IF HIS VENTURE WAS IN DANGER?
4. WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT MAY REMIND SALARINO OF HIS SHIPS?HOW?
5. WHAT IS ANTONIO'S REACTION TO HIS FRIENDS SUGGESTION 'S ON HIS MELANCHOLIC STATE?
Answers
Salarino describes Antonio's ships as Orlando.
Salanio would pluck the grasses and let them flow to know where the wind is blowing.
1. Antonio was in a depressed state because he himself confessed it. He says, “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. It wearies me; you say it wearies you;”. However, in reality he himself was not aware of the reason for such a state of his mind. He was yet to learn what had made him so miserly.
2.Salarino described the ships as being like huge parade of floats on the sea. These ships sail most majestically and are far superior than the other freight ships. They appear like rich Italian Lords. Antonio's ships are so classy that they overshadow all other vessels on sea.
3. Solanio would fear that if he was in place of Antonio he would have feared that his ship may wreck up on the ocean and his condition would be more pitiable than the sight of Antonio.
He would keep on plucking grass and show it to air so that he can know that from which direction the air blew.
He would look on to maps for ports and piers and roads. These objects remind him of danger.
4. Salarino feared for his business ventures. When cooling his soup by blowing on it, it reminded him of the stormy winds at sea causing terrible damages to his ships and the sandy hour-glass reminded him of the richly laden vessels wrecked on the sandy shore.
5. Antonio replies that his friends are wrong. He is thankful that not all his merchandise is in one ship or any one place, and he hasn't risked all his riches on his ventures. Therefore it's not his merchandise that is making him sad
Hope it helps!