The Merchant of Venice Character Analysis

Shylock

Shylock is the most vivid and memorable character in The Merchant of Venice and is one of Shakespeare's greatest dramatic creations. Shylock is powerfully drawn, perhaps too powerfully for this comedy, but his superb dignity is admirable, despite the fact that we must finally condemn him.    Shylock is the antagonist of the play and is menacing enough to put the happiness of Venice’s businessmen and young lovers alike in peril. Shylock's function in this play is to be the obstacle to the love stories in the play; such a man is a traditional figure in romantic comedies.     Shylock is also, however, a creation of circumstance. His mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. In one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, for example, Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venetian citizens.   When Shylock leaves the courtroom at the end of the play, he is stripped of all that he has. However, Shylock’s coldly calculated attempt to revenge the wrongs done to him by murdering Antonio, prevents us from viewing him in a positive or pitiful light.

Portia

Quick-witted, wealthy, and beautiful, Portia embodies the virtues that are typical of Shakespeare’s heroines. Portia is the romantic heroine of the play, and she must be presented on the stage with much beauty and intelligence.    At the beginning of the play we don't see Portia’s potential for initiative and resourcefulness. She is like a prisoner in her home, bound to follow her father’s dying wishes. This changes when Bassanio arrives and she becomes much more resourceful. She begs the man she loves to stay a while before picking a chest, and finding loopholes in the will’s provision that we never thought possible. This resourcefulness is shown again in the courtroom in Act 4.    In the courtroom, Portia speaks to Shylock about mercy. This is not merely an attempt to stall, she truly means what she says. Her request for mercy comes from her habitual goodness. She hopes, of course, to soften his heart, knowing the outcome if he refuses.    The entire ring plot is Portia's idea. She and Nerissa relish the prospect of the jest at their husbands' expense. Bassanio swears that he never gave his ring away to another woman, but with a fine sense of comedy, Portia plays the role of the angry wife just as well as she played the role of the lawyer in court.

Antonio

Although most of the plot happens around Antonio, we don't learn much about his character.    Antonio is introduced as a depressing character, someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy and who, throughout the course of the play, devolves into a self-pitying lump, unable to muster the energy required to defend himself against execution. The most likely object of his affection is Bassanio, who takes full advantage of the merchant’s boundless feelings for him.    One of Antonio's most distinguishing characteristics is his generosity. He is more than happy to offer his good credit standing so that Bassanio can court Portia. One of the reasons why Shylock hates Antonio so intensely is that Antonio has received Shylock's borrowers by lending them money at the last minute to pay off Shylock without charging interest. Antonio's generosity is boundless, and for Bassanio, he is willing to go to the full length of friendship, even if it means that he himself may suffer for it.   Antonio is quite an honourable character; when he is in court with Shylock, he is willing to admit that the law is against him.

Bassanio

Bassanio's character is more fully drawn than Antonio's, but it does not possess the powerful individuality that Shakespeare gives to his portraits of Portia and Shylock.   We learn at the beginning of the play that Bassanio is bad with money. Bassanio's request to Antonio for more money is perfectly natural for him. He is young; he is in love; and he is, by nature, impulsive and romantic. Bassanio has always borrowed money and, furthermore, no moral stigma should be involved.    Bassanio is known to love people strongly, particularly Antonio and Portia. When he hears that Shylock is after Antonio, Bassanio is immediately and extremely concerned over the fate of Antonio and is anxious to do whatever is possible for his friend.    Bassanio seems to float through life, reaping the benefits of his rich friends. In the end, Bassanio gets everything he ever wanted: he gets a wife who is devoted to his happiness and his best friend is saved from Shylock's vengeful lawsuit.

Jessica and Lorenzo

Jessica not only runs away from her father's house, she also converts to Christianity, showing her independence and willingness to get away from Shylock. The idea here is that Jessica's marriage to a Christian man will automatically make her a Christian too. It becomes clear that Jessica not only hates her father's rude manners but also associates Shylock's conduct and behavior with being Jewish, which is why she can't wait to be a Christian.   The love between Lorenzo and Jessica is clearly very strong. When Lorenzo talks about Jessica, he says he loves her because she's smart, beautiful, and loyal.    Lorenzo's willingness to marry Jessica can be seen as a signal of his progressive, open-minded attitude about race and religion, something that is rare throughout the play.

Gratiano and Nerissa

Gratiano is a coarse, garrulous young man and Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial in Act 4.   He's also known to be quite the party animal. When Bassanio travels to Belmont to win Portia, Bassanio warns Gratiano to behave himself.   Gratiano's behavior seems to copycat Bassanio's throughout the play. When Bassanio passes the test of the three caskets and announces that he will marry Portia, Gratiano announces that he is going to marry Nerissa. When Bassanio gives away Portia's ring after the trial, Gratiano gives away Nerissa's ring.   Nerissa is Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante. At the beginning of the play, she acts as a sounding board to Portia. She listens to Portia complain about her life and the unfairness of the casket contest. Towards the end of the play, she acts more as a partner than a lady-in-waiting.