The Merchant Of Venice

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1596 or 1597 The Merchant of Venice has some remarkably cool characters. Three of who are described here.

Antonio

A merchant of Venice, who was a well-respected businessman and whose whole fortune was tied up in ships. Although, not actually a member of the aristocracy his wealth allowed him to mix in the same circles and afforded him many of the same pleasures. Antonio was a loyal friend and was well liked amongst the young men of Venice. In modern day terms, a combination of, jet setter, city slicker, socialite and party animal. His friends generally only saw the good and generous side to his character but he did have a more ruthless and vicious side that undermined his Christian beliefs. It was this darker side that allowed him to bully and persecute Shylock and the other Jews in the city with the full knowledge that the law was on his side.
His best mate was Bassanio for whom he was quite literally willing to die for. This loyalty and friendship displayed another side to ...

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what she wanted and just how to get it and there was not much that would get in her way. Elizabethan times were however not the best times for women, they were, generally, uneducated and had to take the sub-ordinate role but there is always an exception to the rule and Portia was the exception. She was an extremely wealthy heiress from Belmont; prospective husbands from around the world came to her in hope that they may marry. In doing so (on her fathers wishes), the suitors were required to choose between a lead, silver and gold casket. Whichever casket contained her portrait would be the one she would marry. To Portia's ‘luck’, Bassanio the man she had fallen in love with, chose the ...

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