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Foreshadowing: Act I Scene I
Possible Essay Topic:
Describe a literary technique used by an author and explain
how this technique helped you to understand important
idea(s) in the text.
Authors use the literary technique of foreshadowing to indicate
important events in the text. Shakespeare used reasons given for
Antonio’s sadness at the start of “The Merchant of Venice” to hint at
major events in the play.
The jovial friends Salerio and Solanio attempt to cheer up Antonio in
Act 1 Scene 1. They try to console and empathise with Antonio in his
distress. In their efforts they allude to five main events in the play: the
shipwreck, love and courtship, Shylock’s angry outbursts, Portia’s
disguise and Antonio’s punishment of death.
Salerio’s first allusion is to the shipwreck which destroyed Antonio’s
ships and sank his wealth. He says,
“My mind, cooling my broth,
would blow me to an ague when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.” (1.1.22-24).
This describes the storm and winds which caused the ships to sink. At
the time of the storm, Antonio had been counting on the income
from the ships to repay his debt to Shylock. Salerio’s assessment of
the results (“And, in a word, but even now worth this/And now worth
nothing” 1.1.35-36) accurately predicts the change in Antonio’s
financial situation. It also alerts the audience to the idea that
Antonio’s word would not be a satisfactory bond for Shylock.
R Jeffery-Jones
Foreshadowing: Act I Scene I
His second hint is at the love and courtship which develops in the
play: “Why then you are in love.” (1.1.46) There were three main
relationships.
When he describes different personalities people in general may
have, Salerio foreshadows the anger expressed by Shylock. “And
other of such vinegar aspect,/That they’ll not show their teeth in way
of a smile” (1.1.54-55)
R Jeffery-Jones
Foreshadowing: Act I Scene I
Antonio foreshadows the part Portia plays in his trial towards the end
of the play, when he says “A stage, where every man must play a
part,/And mine a sad one.” (1.1.77-78)
The horror Antonio faces at his trial, is indicated by Gratiano. This
friend of Antonio declares,
And let my liver rather heat with wine,
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?” (1.1.81-84)
R Jeffery-Jones