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The Merchant of Venice

Chapter 2: Dramatis Personæ
By William Shakespeare
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About This Book

Set partly in Venice and partly at Belmont, this play follows a young nobleman who needs money to court a wealthy heiress and persuades his merchant friend to borrow a dangerous bond from a resentful moneylender. Parallel plots show the heiress's suitors tested by a casket choice and the moneylender's daughter eloping with a Christian, deepening tensions. When the merchant cannot pay, the lender insists on a pound-of-flesh penalty and the case reaches a court, where the heiress, disguised as a lawyer, averts the penalty through a strict reading of the contract. The legal victory leads to the lender's ruin and forced submission, and the work closes with reconciliations, marriage, and questions about mercy, justice, prejudice, and appearance versus reality.

Contents

ACT I
Scene I. Venice. A street.
Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Scene III. Venice. A public place.
ACT II
Scene I. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Scene II. Venice. A street.
Scene III. The same. A room in Shylock’s house.
Scene IV. The same. A street.
Scene V. The same. Before Shylock’s house.
Scene VI. The same.
Scene VII. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Scene VIII. Venice. A street.
Scene IX. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
ACT III
Scene I. Venice. A street.
Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Scene III. Venice. A street.
Scene IV. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Scene V. The same. A garden.
ACT IV
Scene I. Venice. A court of justice.
Scene II. The same. A street.
ACT V
Scene I. Belmont. The avenue to Portia’s house.

Dramatis Personæ

THE DUKE OF VENICE
THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO, suitor to Portia
THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON, suitor to Portia
ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice
BASSANIO, his friend, suitor to Portia
GRATIANO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio
SOLANIO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio
SALARINO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio
LORENZO, in love with Jessica
SHYLOCK, a rich Jew
TUBAL, a Jew, his friend
LAUNCELET GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock
OLD GOBBO, father to Launcelet
LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio
BALTHAZAR, servant to Portia
STEPHANO, servant to Portia
SALERIO, a messenger from Venice

PORTIA, a rich heiress
NERISSA, her waiting-woman
JESSICA, daughter to Shylock

Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, a Gaoler, Servants and other Attendants

SCENE: Partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the seat of Portia on the Continent