Important figures from The Merchant of Venice.

Antonio:

The protagonist of The Merchant of Venice and the play's namesake is probably Antonio. Because of his depressed demeanor and love for his best buddy, Bassanio, Antonio captures the attention of the audience. 

But during the play, Antonio makes nasty and racial remarks to Shylock that reveal his darker side. 

Bassanio:

Antonio's closest friend is Bassanio. He is fixated on Portia and money. We may also say that it's just money because Portia is so wealthy. 

Throughout the play, Bassanio is deceitful and manipulative as well, utilizing complex rhetoric to persuade Antonio to give him a loan and using figurative language to make it abundantly evident that he only likes Portia for her wealth. 

Portia:

The prosperous daughter of Belmont is Portia. Before his demise, her father made three caskets, and only the man who picked the right one was eligible to marry his daughter. 

Portia lacks freedom in her society because she is compelled to play restricted feminine roles and is unable to select her husband. By the play's finale, she manages to overcome the oppressive structures that are in place and exhibits a startling level of agency. 

Shylock:

The Jew known as Shylock is the one who borrows Antonio 3000 ducats with the proviso that if Antonio doesn't pay it back in three months, Shylock may take a pound of flesh from him. 

Even though Shylock despises and abuses Christians throughout the play, we might feel sorry for him after witnessing the mistreatment he receives from his culture. 

In contrast to the dishonesty of many of the Christian figures in The Merchant of Venice, Shylock stands out as a "what you see is exactly what you get" kind of character.

Jessica:

The child of Shylock is Jessica. She runs away to tie the knot with Lorenzo after robbing her father of his money and valuables. She later becomes a Christian. You might wish to think about whether Jessica was right to leave her abusive father or if she betrayed her religious and familial values. 

Lorenzo:

Antonio and Bassanio are great friends with Lorenzo. He marries Jessica, who, like Portia, has amassed a sizable fortune after robbing her father of it. However, Lorenzo appears much more willing to love Jessica for who she is compared to Bassanio, who merely desires Portia for her money. 

Additionally, he marries a Jew, which would have been disapproved of in his community. You might thus want to think about whether Lorenzo is less bound by his society's preconceptions than other characters in The Merchant of Venice. 

Nerissa:

Portia's friend and lady-in-waiting. Together, Nerissa and Portia love making fun of her suitors.

The Merchant of Venice's supporting cast

Gratiano:
Bassanio's companion.

Venice's Duke:

The Duke of Venice has to uphold the law. Given that he owes Shylock a pound of flesh, he is powerless to assist Antonio.

Moroccan prince:

a potential suitor for Portia. For having such dark skin, Portia and Nerissa make fun of him.

The Arragon Prince: 
a potential suitor for Portia.

Solero and Salarino:

It's challenging to tell these two apart from one another. These individuals are Venetian traders who are close friends with Antonio and Bassanio. 

Gobbo Launcelot:

He initially worked for Shylock before leaving to work for Bassanio. The play's clown, Launcelot Gobbo, frequently misuses complex words. 

Senior Gobbo:
Father of Launcelot Gobbo.

Tubal: 
a close companion of Shylock.

Balthasar:

The person Portia sends to Doctor Bellario to get the paperwork she needs to appear in court as The Duke is her servant.