characters in The Merchant of Venice

1. Antonio - A wealthy merchant of Venice who is willing to borrow money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio. 2. Bassanio - A young Venetian nobleman who is in love with Portia and borrows money from Antonio to finance his courtship. 3. Portia - A wealthy heiress from Belmont who is sought after by many suitors and ultimately marries Bassanio. 4. Shylock - A Jewish moneylender who lends money to Antonio and demands a pound of his flesh as collateral. 5. Jessica - Shylock's daughter who elopes with Lorenzo, a Christian, and converts to Christianity. 6. Lorenzo - A friend of Bassanio who elopes with Jessica and helps Portia and Nerissa in their disguises. 7. Nerissa - Portia's waiting woman who marries Gratiano, a friend of Bassanio. 8. Gratiano - A friend of Bassanio who marries Nerissa and accompanies Bassanio to Belmont. 9. Launcelot Gobbo - A clownish servant of Shylock who leaves his service to work for Bassanio. 10. Old Gobbo - Launcelot's blind father who seeks his son's help in finding Shylock's house.