- The location is Venice. There are many merchants in Venice who make money by trading goods.
- Shylock and Antonio have a conflict in interest regarding business.
- Antonio is sad.
- Antonio’s ships are all on journey and he does not have money.
- Portia’s father died recently, and she is looking for a husband.
–These seem to be the unchangable stability, but maybe these are too specific? Then, there must be an action that disrupts this stability, which I think is Bassanio asking Antonio for money. What do other people think?