footnotes+a1s1

**The Merchant of Venice Footnotes a1s1**

10 **Signiors and rich burghers** - Gentlemen and rich citizens Salanio is wanting to make Antonio feel better. He does this by exaggerating his fears of how gentleman and rich citizens are on the sea. These people on the sea are trouble and will result in problems.MH

12 **Petty traffickers** - Small commercial boats This line is saying that decorated carts oversee small commercial boats. This is significant because it is showing how the rich people get to oversee everything that is going on.MH

24 **Ague** - Ague means fit of shivering Salarino is shivering of fear because of how much he cares about his ships. This is direct characterization because it shows how scared he is of his ships crashing.MH

28 **Andrew dock'd in sand** - The ship of Andrew is stuck in the sand Anderew is Salarino's richly laden vessel which is stuck on a sand bar and can not get out. This is significant because it makes Salarino worried about his ships. How will the sailors be saved?MH

50 **Two-headed Janus** - A two headed God This two headed monster is actually the two-heading Roman god of doorways and openings, who faced both directions at once. This description is indirect characterization because he is showing how Antonio is living a two faced life.MH

57 **Nestor swear the jest** - Nestor swears the joke is funny Nestor is an old and wise Greek general who fought in the war against Troy. A jest is a joke. The phrase says that "Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable." This means that Nestor promises that the joke is funny.MH

58 **Kinsman -** In Shakespeare's main source, the merchant was the godfather of the younger man. Another definition is a member of the same group. By Solanio saying this it shows that one of Salarino's best friends is Bassanio. This is significant to the play because both of these men have each other's backs which will help them towards the end of the story.MH

77-79 **I hold...sad one** - In the play that is the world, I (Antonio) play a sad part. Antonio says again that he is sad, but he does not know why. Throughout the scene Antonio's friends are trying to figure out why he is sad, but they can not help Antonio figure out why. This line is just a part of Antonio trying to understand his sadness. CK

80 **With mirth...wrinkles come** - Let me grow old with joy and laughter. Gratiano says that he wants to grow old as a joyful and happy man, unlike the men he talks about later on. CK

81 **And let...wine** - Let me drink lots of wine as I age, so that my liver heats with it. Gratiano also says that he also wants to grow old as a happy man who drinks plenty of wine so that his liver his liver is filled with wine. CK

83-84 **Why...alabaster** - Why should a man who is still alive be as still as a statue of his grandfather. Gratiano begins his passage of talking about how men who are thought of as wise, but are not really because they never say anything. He uses a simile to describe how some men don't do anything but are thought of as smart. CK

106-107 **I must...speak** - I must be one of the men who Gratiano spoke of that is portrayed as wise, but is really a dumb fool because Gratiano doesn't let me speak. In saying this, Lorenzo tells the audience directly that Gratiano is talkative (direct characterization), if you haven't already infered the fact that he is talkative from the passage before. CK

108-109 **Keep me...own tongue** - Spend time with me for two more years and you will forget the sound of your own voice. Shakespeare again uses direct characterization to show that Gratiano is extremely talkative and has a very outgoing personality.CK

115-118 **His reasons...worth the search** - To find out the meanings of Gratiano's sayings you must think about them all day, but once you figure it out it's not that important. Bassanio uses a metaphor to demonstrate how Gratiano talks a lot, but his sayings are not meaningful.CK

120 **secret pilgrimage -** A long journey that is a secret to Antonio at the time Antonio asks Bassanio to whom he has sworn a secret pilgrimage to marry. Bassanio replies that he is going to marry Portia, a beautiful and also rich lady. This begins a subplot where Bassanio must choose the right casket to be able to marry Portia. CK

125 **Moan to be abrig'd-** Bassanio is desperate to whoo Portia to become his wife. He comes to Antonio and asks him for some money to help him. This phrase is said when Bassiano,greatly in debt, is trying to tell Antonio that he knows that he himself is responsible for his debt and that he knows that he is responsible for it and he is not totally asking Antonio to pay it off for him. However, he was just trying to kiss up to Antonio because later he asks him for more money.TS

148 **To shoot another arrow that self way-** This is where Bassanio asks Antonio for more money, he just says it differently, like shooting an arrow his way, or to shoot some money his way to help him out.TS

130 **Hath left me gag'd**- Bassanio is saying that he is engaged in his debts. In this case gag'd means engaged.TS

161-166 **In Belmont...daughter, Brutus' Portia**- Bassiano is explaining to Antonio the reason why he wants some money, so he can be able to marry a beautiful lady, Portia of Belmont.TS

180 **Try what my credit can in Venice do**- Antonio is telling Bassanio that he can go to Venice and get some of his money for Portia there.TS

160 **prest unto**- ready to do. Antonio hints here that he will give Bassanio some money and help him out.TS

185 **To have it of my trust or for my sake.-** Antonio is informing Bassiano that he is positive that Bassanio will get the money either by his credit or for the sake of his friendship.TS