Edit:In looking at the characters, their desires, and their actions, there seems to be a great contrast between all of the Christian characters and Shylock the Jew. Not only are all of the Christian characters “right” and the “good guys” and Shylock “wrong” and the “bad guy,” the Christians seem more human. The Christians, even those who have their faults (Antonio mistreating Shylock, Gratiano being overly flippant, etc) have more human desire and a greater thirst for a good life. They desire things that will make themselves and others happy. Shylock, however, only wants revenge and his “justice.” It’s as if he is some how sub-human. The difference is not about moral rights and wrongs but entire states of being and outlooks on life.Bassanio
- Motivation – Bassanio wishes to woo and wed Portia, he also wants Antontio’s wellbeing because he so devoted to him
- Obstacles – At first his lack of funds prevents him from wooing Portia, then he runs into the obstacle of the casket test. As for achieving Antonio’s wellbeing, he runs into the obstacles of Antonio’s ships apparently being lost at sea, and Shylock holding onto the agreement
- Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want In order to woo and wed Portia, Bassanio is willing to strain his relationship with Antonio by asking him for money yet again, and travel far. He is also willing to risk failing the casket test and being forced to swear to never pursue her again. In order to protect Antonio, Bassanio is willing to pay many times Shylock’s original price.
- Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions? Bassanio chooses to ask Antonio for money because he knows he can trust him in a tight spot (he’s done it before), and he has really has a strong desire to try for Portia’s hand. He tries to save Antonio’s life because he is is closest friend, and he chooses the method of bribing Shylock because he is confident in his relationship with his new wife (it won’t strain anything between them).
- Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth un why he does an action. Bassanio expresses that he would give is own life to protect Antonio. “Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!/The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,/Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.” (IV, 1, lines 133-155) He seems to be honest in this, traveling far to make it to Antonio’s trial and repeatedly offering to sacrifice money and his life for him.
Portia
- Character(s) Motivation – Portia wishes to wed a good man that she loves, and support him and make him happy without breaking her late father’s will. (Should we also include something about wanting to please/support Bassanio? After all she is willing to go to great lengths to aid Antonio because of Bassanio)
- Obstacles – Portia struggles with the arrival of many base, arrogant, or simply undesirable suitors. She also struggles with the fact that when Bassanio arrives she cannot simply marry him without breaking her father’s will.
- Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want In order to not break her father’s will, she is willing to risk not marrying the one she loves. In order to support Bassanio and therefore Antonio, she is willing to provide great amounts of money, and concoct a scheme involving Nerissa and going under cover.
- Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions? She chooses to aid Antonio and pretend to be a man with Nerissa because she feels it is her duty as Bassanio’s wife to support his close friend. “…for in companions/That do converse and waste the time together, /Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,/There must be needs a like proportion/Of lineaments, of manners and spirit; Which makes me think that this Antonio, Being the bosom lover of my lord, Must needs be like my lord.” (III, 4, lines 11- 18) Portia specifically offers support in the form of money because she is quite wealthy. There doesn’t seem to be much difference in what she says and what she does, excepting the bit of fun she and Nerissa have with the rings and the expense of their husbands.
Shylock
€¢ Character Motivation – Shylock wishes to get revenge against Christian men, specifically Antonio, who treat him poorly because he is Jewish.
€¢ Obstacles – Shylock has to abide by the law, and so must find a way to avenge himself through legal means
€¢ Action/What? – What the character does or is willing to do to satisfy the want- Shylock creates an agreement with Antonio wherein, should Antonio fail to pay off his debt, Shylock may extract a pound of his flesh.
€¢ Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions?
€¢ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth of why he does an action.- Shylock demands his pound of Antonio's flesh, claiming that he wants it because it is what he is owed, refusing to accept Bassiano's money. In actuality, he demands Antonio's flesh and nothing else, because he is bitter at Antonio for being prejudiced against him.
Antonio
€¢ Character(s) Motivation – Antonio is determined to see Bassanio happy
€¢ Obstacles – He must come to an agreement with Shylock that enables Bassanio to gain enough money to visit Portia and potentially marry her.
€¢ Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want- He agrees to pay for Bassanio's bond and says that should his money not arrive in time for the deal to be met, he will let Shylock take a pound of his flesh in compensation.
€¢ Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions?
€¢ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth of why he does an action. – There is not a real difference between Antonio's true action and avowed action. He says he creates the deal with Shylock to help his friend Bassanio, and that appears to be true.
Lorenzo
€¢ Character(s) Motivation – Lorenzo wants to marry Jessica and have her convert to Christianity
€¢ Obstacles – Shylock does not want Jessica marrying Lorenzo, or any other Christian
€¢ Action/What? – What the characters does or is willing to do to satisfy the want¬-Lorenzo helps Jessica run away from Shylock's house during the night so that they can be together.
€¢ Action/Why? – Why the character chooses these actions?-
€¢ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – Why does the character SAY he does an action compared to the truth of why he does an action.
Jessica
¨ Character(s) Motivation – Jessica wishes to marry Lorenzo, lead happy life with him, and dissociate herself from her father’s ways.
¨ Obstacles – She must find a way escape from her father’s house and convert to Christianity. However, she is slightly torn because she feels it wrong, or at least tragic, that she should be ashamed of being her father’s daughter.
¨ Action/What? – Jessica sends Lorenzo a letter detailing how he should come to rescue her, and the preparations she has made for their new life together (parts of her father’s wealth she has taken). She also converts to Christianity.
¨ Action/Why? – Because Jessica is a Jew, it is forbidden for her to marry Lorenzo because he isn’t Jewish, and it is forbidden for him to marry her. This gives the reason for both her needing to escape from her father’s household and for her to convert to Christianity. Converting to Christianity also helps her to further dissociate herself from her father’s ways.
¨ Avowed Action/Why? vs. True Action/Why? – There doesn’t seem to be a great difference between her avowed and true actions, however, one might question why she needed to take so much of her father’s wealth. Yes, she and Lorenzo are poor and starting a new life with nothing, but as Shylock finds out after their escape, Jessica and Lorenzo have a bit of a spending spree directly following their elopement.
Gratiano
¨ Character(s) Motivation – Gratiano wishes to live his live in a hearty, fun-loving fashion. He also wishes for his friends, especially Antonio and Bassanio, to be as happy as he is.
¨ Obstacles – Gratiano’s flippant, talkative manner is off-putting to civilized company. It almost prevents him from accompanying Bassanio on his trip. Shylock’s refusing to show mercy to Antonio is an obstacle to Gratiano seeing his friends happy.
¨ Action/What/Why? – Bassanio says that he is willing to take on sober manners and act mildly. It is hard to tell whether he follows through on this or not because the action of the play moves away from him, however, neither Bassanio or Antonio reprimand him again. He accompanies Bassanio on his trip to Belmont, and also on his trip to defend Antonio. Gratiano is quite devoted to both Bassanio and Antonio as they are his close friends. He marries Nerissa in Belmont because he has fallen in love and he feels it will contribute to his happy lifestyle.