Secondary Characters in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

Write 600-800 words on the following topic. Define as closely as possible the function or purpose of any two of the secondary characters (in other words, anyone other than Shylock, Portia, Antonio, or Bassanio) in The Merchant of Venice.

Ask yourself some questions as you prepare to write:

1. Do the characters I have chosen perform similar or contrasting functions?
2. What do these characters say about themselves?
3. What do others say about them?
4. Where do these characters appear in the play (in other words, how do they fit into the overall structure, the architecture of the play)?
5. How do these characters relate to and interact with the major characters?
6. How do these characters contribute to the theme or themes you find to be in the play?

Word Count: 600-700

No. of Pages: 4