Merchant of Venice (c1597). The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous Hath not a Jew eyes? speech on humanity. Also notable is Portia's speech about the quality of mercy. Critic Harold Bloom listed it among Shakespeare's great comedies. Antonio-a prominent merchant of Venice in a melancholic mood. Bassanio-Antonio's close friend; suitor to Portia; later the husband of Portia. Gratiano-friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Nerissa; later the husband of Nerissa. Lorenzo-friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Jessica; later the husband of Jessica. Portia-a rich heiress; later the wife of Bassanio. Nerissa-Portia's waiting maid-in love with Gratiano; later the wife of Gratiano; disguises herself as Portia's clerk. Balthazar-Portia's servant. Stephano-Portia's servant. Shylock-a miserly Jew; moneylender; father of Jessica. Jessica-daughter of Shylock, later the wife of Lorenzo. Tubal-a Jew; friend of Shylock. Launcelot Gobbo-servant of Shylock; later a servant of Bassanio; son of Old Gobbo. Old Gobbo-blind father of Launcelot. Leonardo-slave to Bassanio. Duke of Venice-authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond. Prince of Morocco-suitor to Portia. Prince of Aragon-suitor to Portia. Salarino and Salanio-friends of Antonio and Bassanio. Salerio-a messenger from Venice; friend of Antonio, Bassanio and others. Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, gaolers, servants to Portia, and other attendants and Doctor Bellario, cousin of Portia. Bassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out. Antonio agrees, but since he is cash-poor-his ships and merchandise are busy at sea to Tripolis, the Indies, Mexico and England-he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor. Antonio has already antagonized Shylock through his outspoken antisemitism and because Antonio's habit of lending money without interest forces Shylock to charge lower rates. Shylock is at first reluctant to grant the loan, citing abuse he has suffered at Antonio's hand. He finally agrees to lend the sum to Bassanio without interest upon one condition: if Antonio is unable to repay it at the specified date, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Bassanio does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition; Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the moneylender's generosity, and he signs the contract. With money in hand, Bassanio leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano, who has asked to accompany him. Gratiano is a likeable young man, but he is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless. Bassanio warns his companion to exercise self-control, and the two leave for Belmont. Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is awash with suitors. Her father left a will stipulating that each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead respectively. Whoever picks the right casket wins Portia's hand. The first suitor, the Prince of Morocco, chooses the gold casket, interpreting its slogan, Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire, as referring to Portia. The second suitor, the conceited Prince of Aragon, chooses the silver casket, which proclaims, Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves, as he believes he is full of merit. Both suitors leave empty-handed, having rejected the lead casket because of the baseness of its material and the uninviting nature of its slogan, Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. The last suitor is Bassanio, whom Portia wishes to succeed, having met him before. As Bassanio ponders his choice, members of Portia's household sing a song that says that fancy is engend'red in the eyes, / With gazing fed; Bassanio chooses the lead casket and wins Portia's hand. At Venice, Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea, so the merchant cannot repay the bond.