audience is pleased that such an unsavory character has gotten what he deserves.
Third, one of Antonio’s ships has suffered a disaster and is wrecked. Salerio worries that Antonio may have trouble paying the debt he owes to Shylock. Salerio also tells Solanio that Antonio had told Bassanio to take his time and be a proper and gracious suitor towards Portia. Antonio had also told Bassanio not to worry about the debt. Bassanio, now that he has left Venice, will have no way of knowing about Antonio’s financial difficulty. Thetensionin theconflictbetween Antonio and Shylock now starts to increase. At this point in the play, Antonio appears to be in danger of losing hislife.
Back in Belmont another suitor to Portia is attempting to win her as his bride. Thefairy-talequality of the play soon becomes evident. This sceneparallelsthe one in which the Prince of Morocco had attempted to win Portia (Act II, Scene 7). Both the dialogue and the action of the scene establish apatternthat will conclude with the third attempt (by Bassanio in Act III, Scene 2). Similar to Morocco, the Prince of Aragon in the ninth scene reads over the riddles on the caskets, evaluates them carefully, and chooses incorrectly.