Question

What is background to the conversation between salerio and solanioin act 3 scene 1 of merchant of venice?

Answer 1

the optimism of Belmont gives place to the darkening atmosphere of Venice.There is still no confirmation that the ship wreck in the English Channel is indeed Antonio's,but Solanio believes the rumour to be true

Answer 2

the background of this conversation is about the forfeit of the antonio but it is still a rumoured news but there are more of it to be true.