Shakespeare sets up the genre and thematic concerns in a very strong manner in the first two acts of the Merchant of Venice, setting the foundations of the play yet still leaving a lot up for explanation. From the first two acts, there is still some relative ambiguity surrounding genre. A lot of evidence supports the commonly accepted idea that the play is a Shakespearean comedy, however there are definitely many tragic aspects within the first two acts which would obviously make Merchant of Venice a tragedy. The general Elizabethan definition of a Shakespearean comedy is a play that ends happily, usually involving a marriage. For clear reasons, from Acts I and II we still don’t know what the ending will be! However, there are several indications of an eventual marriage, and Shakespeare sets up a marriage between Portia and Bassanio. He does this in the second scene of the play in a conversation between Nerissa and Portia at Belmont. They were discussing possible suitors for Portia when Nerissa said: “a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?” Portia then replied: “Yes, yes, it was Bassanio! – as I think so he was called.” In response Nerissa said: “True, madam – he of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon was the best deserving a fair lady.” Previous to these comments, several other names had been mentioned including that of The Prince of Morocco. As this name was suggested, it was soon dismissed by Portia as she said, “If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.” In simple terms, even if Morocco had the heart of a saint, he would still not have a slight chance of marriage if she had the choice. However as I commented on earlier, there are many references which are typical of a tragedy. A great example of this is contained in Act I Scene III in a debate between Bassanio, Antonio and Shylock. The latter states to Antonio that as a penalty for not paying the bond; “an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me.” Another tragic moment falls in the 6th scene of Act II, in which Jessica runs off with Shylock’s jewels and wealth to be with Lorenzo. Cumulatively, these two factors are bound to set up a tragedy towards the end of the play. In terms of genre, this is all that I am able to discuss based on simply these two acts. However there are several thematic concerns and topics that must be considered. Firstly, from the first two acts, it becom