Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

Barabas enters his counting house. There are stacks of gold and heaps of worldly possessions such as silks and refined goods all about him. He says that while he must accept goods as payment, he would much rather be paid in gold, silver or gems. He doesn't like dealing in goods that could burn or be lost at sea. Barabas is expecting some of his ships. One of his merchants enters to tell him a ship with his goods has landed, and others are expected soon. Taxes must be paid on the imports before they can be offloaded. Barabas directs the merchant to advise the tax collectors that the goods are owned by him, the Jew of Malta, who can be trusted to pay the taxes. He orders the merchant to go and begin the inventory and offloading without him. The...