Shylock
A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s
Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly
demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Although seen by the rest of the play’s
characters as an inhuman monster, Shylock at times diverges from stereotype and reveals himself
to be quite human. These contradictions, and his eloquent expressions of hatred, have earned
Shylock a place as one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters.
Portia
A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portia’s beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a
clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among
three caskets, Portia is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. Far and away the most
clever of the play’s characters, it is Portia, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves
Antonio from Shylock’s knife.
Antonio
The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock’s contract and
almost lose his life. Antonio is something of a mercurial figure, often inexplicably melancholy
and, as Shylock points out, possessed of an incorrigible dislike of Jews. Nonetheless, Antonio is
beloved of his friends and proves merciful to Shylock, albeit with conditions.
Jessica
Although she is Shylock’s daughter, Jessica hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the
young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. The fate of her soul is often in doubt: the play’s characters
wonder if her marriage can overcome the fact that she was born a Jew, and we wonder if her sale
of a ring given to her father by her mother is excessively callous.
Bassanio
A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio’s love for the
wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An
ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the
casket that contains Portia’s portrait.
Gratiano
A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man,
Gratiano is Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts
Portia, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa.
Lorenzo
A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. He
schemes to help Jessica escape from her father’s house, and he eventually elopes with her to
Belmont.
Nerissa
Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia’s trip
to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk.
Launcelot Gobbo
Bassanio’s servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns,
Launcelot leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio.
The prince of Morocco
A Moorish prince who seeks Portia’s hand in marriage. The prince of Morocco asks Portia to
ignore his dark countenance and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. Certain that
the caskets reflect Portia’s beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which
proves to be incorrect.
Antonio A wealthy Venetian merchant who occasionally lends money, but never charges
interest. Since his main source of income is from his merchant ships, he is the "merchant" of the
play's title.
Bassanio He is a typical Elizabethan lover and nobleman who is careless with his money; hence,
he has to borrow from Antonio so that he can woo Portia in style.
Portia As one of Shakespeare's most intelligent and witty heroines, she is famous for her beauty
and for her wealth, and she is deeply anguished that she must marry only the man who chooses
the single casket of three which contains her portrait.
Shylock Shylock is an intelligent businessman who believes that, since he is a moneylender,
charging interest is his right; to him, it makes good business sense.
The Duke of Venice He presides as judge over the court proceedings in Shylock's claim on
Antonio.
The Prince of Morocco One of Portia's suitors; he loses the opportunity to marry her when he
chooses the golden casket.
The Prince of Arragon He chooses the silver casket; he is another disappointed suitor for
Portia's hand in marriage.
Gratiano He is the light-hearted, talkative friend of Bassanio, who accompanies him to
Belmont; there, he falls in love with Portia's confidante, Nerissa.
Lorenzo He is a friend of Antonio and Bassanio; he woos and wins the love of Shylock's
daughter, Jessica.
Jessica She is the young daughter of Shylock; she falls in love with Lorenzo and, disguised as a
boy, she elopes with him.
Nerissa Portia's merry and sympathetic lady-in-waiting.
Salarino He is a friend who believes that Antonio is sad because he is worried about his ships at
sea.
Salanio He is another friend of Antonio; he thinks Antonio's melancholy may be caused because
Antonio is in love.
Salerio A messenger from Venice.
