 Studying William Shakespeare's play The Merchant at Venice? Here's how you can analyse the character of Antonio in Act 1, Scene 1. In Act 1, Scene 1 he's presented as really melancholic. He says in Soothe, I know no or I am so sad, it worries me, you see it worries you. Now bear in mind that these opening two lines are written in I am bit pentameter. The sibilance in Soothe so and sad establishes him as a really deep-thinking melancholic figure. The repetition of the word worries could also foreshadow when he loses his wealth. Antonio also confesses he doesn't know how he caught found or came by his sadness and the rule of three here establishes him almost as a tragic figure. He doesn't quite understand the nature of his sadness and this is emphasising the alliteration of W in what and whereof. He doesn't seem to understand his own feelings and he says that I have much adieu to know myself. Now the assonance of A in that have an adieu shows that he really doesn't understand himself very well.