CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Shylock - A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venices
Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as
payment a pound of Antonios flesh. Although seen by the rest of the plays 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
Shakespeares most memorable characters.
Portia - A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portias beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a
clause in her fathers 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 plays
characters, it is Portia, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves Antonio from Shylocks knife.
Antonio - The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylocks 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.
Bassanio - A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanios 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 Portias
portrait.
Gratiano - A friend of Bassanios who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man,
Gratiano is Shylocks most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts Portia, Gratiano
falls in love with and eventually weds Portias lady-in-waiting, Nerissa.
Jessica - Although she is Shylocks daughter, Jessica hates life in her fathers house, and elopes with the
young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. The fate of her soul is often in doubt: the plays 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.
Lorenzo - A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylocks daughter, Jessica. He
schemes to help Jessica escape from her fathers house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont.
Nerissa - Portias lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portias trip to
Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk.
Launcelot Gobbo - Bassanios servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns,
Launcelot leaves Shylocks service in order to work for Bassanio.
The prince of Morocco - A Moorish prince who seeks Portias 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 Portias beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which proves
to be incorrect.
The prince of Arragon - An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portias hand by picking
a casket. Like the prince of Morocco, however, the prince of Arragon chooses unwisely. He picks the silver
casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portias hand.
Salarino - A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. Salarino escorts the
newlyweds Jessica and Lorenzo to Belmont, and returns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonios trial. He
is often almost indistinguishable from his companion Solanio.
Solanio - A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino.
The duke of Venice - The ruler of Venice, who presides over Antonios trial. Although a powerful man, the
dukes state is built on respect for the law, and he is unable to help Antonio.
Old Gobbo - Launcelots father, also a servant in Venice.
Tubal - A Jew in Venice, and one of Shylocks friends.
Doctor Bellario - A wealthy Paduan lawyer and Portias cousin. Doctor Bellario never appears in the play,
but he gives Portias servant the letters of introduction needed for her to make her appearance in court.
Balthasar - Portias servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials from Doctor Bellario.
