• Described as a young, fair looking woman. Bassanio describes her as, "a lady richly left / And she is fair, and, fairer than that word."

• Portia declines each suitor that comes to her because she does not want them: "Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?"

• Is a very hard woman to get and has high standards

• Also has a funny side of her as well and makes fun of all the suitors that come near her.

• Event that is connected to her includes Bassanio's visit to her home hoping he will win Portia over.

• Portia wants Bassanio and he feels the same way

• Shows there is someone out there for her.

Nerissa tells Portia what she wants to hear. As Portia is talking about Bassanio, Nerissa says, "True, madam. He, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look’d upon, was the best deserving a fair lady."

It is shown through physical character descriptions and careful analysis that he is a wealthy merchant in venice: "Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea; / Neither have I money nor commodity / To raise a present sum, therefore go forth / Try what my credit can in Venice do." Since he is venetian, it is implied that he must have the physical traits of someone who lives in Italy.

It is shown through his actions that he is a very generous man. Bassanio asks Antonio for money to impress his love interest, Portia. Antonio does not hesitate to say yes to Bassanio: Go presently inquire, and so will I, / Where money is, and I no question make / To have it of my trust or for my sake." Throughout the story, we see Antonio change to a more bitter man when he is talking with Shylock. Shylock claims that Antonio called him a cut-throat dog, in which Antonio replies, "I am as like to call thee so again." showing Antonio has a more bitter side then we may have seen.

An event that Antonio is connected with is he partakes in a bet with Shylock. he must give 3,000 ducats back to shylock in the span of 3 months, or he must cut off a pound of flesh and give it to shylock. Antonio partakes in this event to help his good friend, Bassanio win over Portia.

Bassanio is described as a young man living in venice.

Bassanio is irresponsible with his money due to living a wealthy life: "How much I have disabled mine estate / By something showing a more swelling port / Than my faint means would grant continuance." Bassanio is also a great friend to Antonio, "Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman."

An event that Bassanio is connected in is getting money from Antonio to win over Portia. Bassanio and Portia have a love story in the play that may lead to a happy ending.

Shylock has no descriptive physical characteristics, but in the story he is mentioned to be a jew. "Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew."

Shylock is known for being greedy. When Shylock realizes his daughter Jessica has gone away with his ducats, he cries out, "Justice! the law! my ducats and my daughter! / A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, / Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter!" This shows he cares more about his wealth and money. Shylock is also judgeful and hates Christians: How like a fawning publican he looks! / I hate him for he is a Christian."

An event Shylock plays a part in is lending ANtonio 3,000 ducats. He then makes a bet to ANtonio stating if he does not have his 3,000 ducats back in 3 months, he will take a pound of Antonio's flesh. This continues to lead into Bassanio's story with Portia.

Lancelet describes Jessica as beautiful: "Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew!"

Jessica is wise, fair and true. "For she is wise, if I can judge of her, / And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, / And true she is, as she hath prov’d herself. / And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true."

An event that Jessica plays in is running off with Lorenzo and her fathers ducats to marry him and covert herself into being a Christian.

The Prince of Morocco has dark skin. "Mislike me not for my complexion, / The shadowed livery of the burnish’d sun."

The Prince of Morocco is brave because he goes forth in Portia's game. "But here an angel in a golden bed / Lies all within. Deliver me the key. / Here do I choose, and thrive in I may." He is also proud because of his skin color.

The Prince of Morocco's event in the play is to try and win Portia in choosing a chest that will have her picture. He fails and must go home and never find another woman again.

Arragon is described as a Spanish suitor looking for Portia's hand.

The Prince of Arragon is arrogant and boastful. who thinks he deserves the best. "How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! / “Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.”'

The event he is connected with is trying to win Portia by choosing the correct chest. He boasts about how great he is, and when he chooses the wrong chest it shows how he was his own fool. He leaves to go back home with no lady.

Lorenzo is a venetian.

Lorenzo is described as a venetian and a Christian. He is also very smart and puts together a plan to be with Jessica showing his wits. "Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging, and return / All in an hour."

Lorenzo's event connection is stealing Jessica away from Shylock to be married to her.

Gobbo is visually impaired. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not."

Gobbo is described as being humorous and elderly. "Pray you, sir, stand up, I am sure you are not Launcelet my boy." With Gobbo saying this, it shows a back and forth conversation between Launcelet and Gobbo humorously trying to convince Gobbo he is his son.

Gobbo arrives in Shylocks home asking for his son. He is elderly and blind and does not notice he has already been talking to his son, Launcelet.

Launcelet could be described as a clownish figure.

Lancelet is shown as brave for leaving Shylocks to go to Bassanio's care. "The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me “Gobbo, Launcelet Gobbo, good Launcelet” or “good Gobbo,” or “good Launcelet Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away.”' Launcelet is also a clown.

Launcelet;s event connection is to help Jessica escape her house to be with Bassanio. He also invites Shylock to supper.

Gratiano is described to be very loud. "Thanks, i’ faith, for silence is only commendable / In a neat’s tongue dried, and a maid not vendible." He also never knows what he is talking about. He is a never ending know-it-all: "Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, / more than any man in all Venice. / His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: / you shall seek all day ere you find them, / and when you have them they are not worth the search."

Gratiano's event connection is to help Bassanio with Portia and eventually marry Nerissa and fall in love with her.