The Merchant of Venice
Characters
Shylock Antonio
Jewish moneylender the merchant of Venice
Antonio’s nemesis Shylock’s nemesis
puritanical, materialistic, melancholic, reserved, selfless
proud, intelligent, shrewd prejudice (anti-Semitic)
Portia
Bassanio
heiress of Belmont
spendthrift, frivolous must be married in order to
in love with and married to receive inheritance
Portia virtuous, intelligent, noble
in love with and married to
Bassanio
Nerissa
Gratiano
Portia’s lady in waiting and
best friend talkative, wild
in love with and married to in love with and married to
Gratiano Nerissa
Jessica
Shylock’s daughter Lorenzo
determined in love with and married to
in love with and married to
Jessica
Lorenzo
, Launcelot Gobbo
comical
isn’t very educated
Salerio & Solanio
Shylock’s servant, later
becomes Bassanio’s friends of Bassanio and Antonio
talkative, superficial, materialistic,
close-minded
Tubal
another Jewish
moneylender
good friend of Shylock
Casket information
man who guesses correct casket win’s her
hand in marriage, if not may never
propose marriage to anyone
Lead Gold Silver
“Who chooseth me, must give “Who chooseth me, shall gain “Who chooseth me, shall get as
and hazard all he hath.” what many men desire.” much as he deserves.”
inside is Portia’s portrait and inside is scull with scroll inside is jester with scroll
scroll with poem
- can’t tell difference between - essentially talks about this
appearance and reality being foolish choice
- didn’t choose based on exterior
- says is as wise as were bold,
therefore had good luck
wouldn’t have chosen gold
- must “claim” Portia with a kiss
- “All that glisters is not gold”
(slightly objectifying)
Characters
Shylock Antonio
Jewish moneylender the merchant of Venice
Antonio’s nemesis Shylock’s nemesis
puritanical, materialistic, melancholic, reserved, selfless
proud, intelligent, shrewd prejudice (anti-Semitic)
Portia
Bassanio
heiress of Belmont
spendthrift, frivolous must be married in order to
in love with and married to receive inheritance
Portia virtuous, intelligent, noble
in love with and married to
Bassanio
Nerissa
Gratiano
Portia’s lady in waiting and
best friend talkative, wild
in love with and married to in love with and married to
Gratiano Nerissa
Jessica
Shylock’s daughter Lorenzo
determined in love with and married to
in love with and married to
Jessica
Lorenzo
, Launcelot Gobbo
comical
isn’t very educated
Salerio & Solanio
Shylock’s servant, later
becomes Bassanio’s friends of Bassanio and Antonio
talkative, superficial, materialistic,
close-minded
Tubal
another Jewish
moneylender
good friend of Shylock
Casket information
man who guesses correct casket win’s her
hand in marriage, if not may never
propose marriage to anyone
Lead Gold Silver
“Who chooseth me, must give “Who chooseth me, shall gain “Who chooseth me, shall get as
and hazard all he hath.” what many men desire.” much as he deserves.”
inside is Portia’s portrait and inside is scull with scroll inside is jester with scroll
scroll with poem
- can’t tell difference between - essentially talks about this
appearance and reality being foolish choice
- didn’t choose based on exterior
- says is as wise as were bold,
therefore had good luck
wouldn’t have chosen gold
- must “claim” Portia with a kiss
- “All that glisters is not gold”
(slightly objectifying)
