Merchant Of Venice Test

Antonio merchant who occasionally lends money, but never charges interest, his main source of income is from his merchant ships,makes deal with Shylock.
Bassanio nobleman who is careless with his money; hence, he has to borrow from Antonio so that he can woo Portia in style.
Portia A wealthy heiress from Belmont, intelligent heroine, she is famous for her beauty and for her wealth, and must abide to the rules of her father’s will where the man she will marry must choose casket with her portrait in it. She is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. Far and away the most clever of the play’s characters, it is her, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves Antonio from Shylock’s knife.
Shylock Jewish moneylender, lends Antonio money to give to Bassanio so he can win Portia, creates bond with Antonio if he can not pay the bond, angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians
The Duke of Venice The ruler of Venice, who presides over Antonio’s trial. Although a powerful man, the duke’s state is built on respect for the law, and he is unable to help Antonio.
Gratiano A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man, he is Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts Portia, he falls in love with Nerissa.
Jessica Shylock’s daughter, she hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo and steals from her father in the process.
Lorenzo A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, he 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 Bassanio’s servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, he leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio.
The prince of Morocco A prince who seeks Portia’s hand in marriage. He asks Portia to ignore his skin color and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. Certain that the caskets reflect Portia’s beauty and stature, the prince picks the gold chest, which is incorrect.
The prince of Arragon An arrogant Spanish nobleman who seeks to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portia’s hand.
Salarino A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. He escorts the newlyweds Jessica and Lorenzo to Belmont, and returns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonio’s trial. He is often almost indistinguishable from his companion Solanio.
Solanio A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino.
Tubal A Jew in Venice, and one of Shylock’s friends.
Old Gobbo Launcelot’s father, also a servant in Venice
Balthasar Portia’s servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials from Doctor Bellario (Portia’s cousin).
gold chest promises, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire” , The Prince of Morocco, who chooses this casket, assumes that this casket represents Portia wealth, which many men would desire. Scroll says ””All that glisters [glitters] is not gold” appearances are often deceiving, and human desire (for wealth, etc) can be dangerous.
silver casket reads, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” The Prince of Aragon chooses this casket, assuming that he rightly deserved his prize. The inside contains a picture of an “idiot,” with a nasty little note calling the person who chooses this casket an idiot
lead casket the casket reads “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he haths”; Bassanio chooses this casket containing Portia’s portrait.
Value of money the plot revolves around a Venetian merchant who can’t repay a loan to a hated moneylender, the characters’ attitudes toward wealth, mercantilism, and usury (lending money with interest) function as a way to differentiate between Christians and Jews, Bassanio originally sought after Portia for her money
value of friendship and love love between family members(Jessica and Shylock) ,friends (Bassanio and Antonio), and lovers (Portia and Bassanio) throughout m.o.v., , depending on the character money and friendship are often valued before love/
appearance vs reality Most obvious is Portia’s disguise in order to save her suitor’s friend Antonio from Shylock’s wrath in collecting his bond or Jessica to escape from her father, Antonio uses money to make himself appear fabulous, etc.
Venice vs Belmont Venice has businesslike setting while Belmont represents romance and possesses almost a fantasy-type atmosphere
mercy and the law Justice is giving someone exactly what they deserve no more or less while mercy is act of forgiveness or compassion. They beg Shylock to show mercy to Antonio
July 9, 2019