The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of VeniceWilliam ShakespeareTimeless Classics
Characters in The Merchant of Venice
4 characters, main characters first.Main characters
Bassanio
Portia
A wealthy heiress of Belmont, bound by her father's will to marry whoever chooses correctly among three caskets; disguises herself as a lawyer to save Antonio.
Antagonists
Shylock
A Jewish moneylender in Venice who lends Antonio money against a bond of a pound of flesh, and demands it when the debt is forfeit.
Supporting characters
Antonio (The Merchant of Venice)
The Venetian merchant who borrows from Shylock, pledging a pound of his own flesh, to fund his friend Bassanio's courtship of Portia.