Jessica (The Merchant of Venice) Jessica (The Merchant of Venice) Jessica is the daughter of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, in William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" (). In the play, she elopes with Lorenzo, a pennyless Christian, and a chest of her father's money, eventually ending up in Portia and Bassanio's household. In the play's dramatic structure, Jessica is a minor but pivotal role. Her actions motivate Shylock's vengeful insistence on his "pound of flesh" from Antonio; her relationships with Lorenzo and Shylock serves as a mirror and contrast to Portia's with Bassanio and with her father; her conversion to Christianity is the end of
Jessica Merchant Jessica Merchant Jessica Merchant (born 1983) is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is currently an assistant coach with the Minnesota Golden Gophers softball team. She previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts. She played professional softball in the National Pro Fastpitch league (NPF) for the New England Riptide (2005, 2007-2008) and Connecticut Brakettes (2006). In 2006, she was named NPF Offensive Player of the Year. Merchant also played college softball for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 2002 to 2005. She was the captain of the 2005 Michigan Wolverines softball team that