THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: THE GOLD, SILVER AND LEAD CASKETS.
Comments(2) In the play of The Merchant of Venice, in Belmont there is a wealthy lady Portia who dead father still decides who her husband should be. There are three caskets; gold, silver and lead and one of them contain an image of Portia. Whoever chooses the correct casket with the image in it will marry Portia. Due to her father’s will Portia “cannot choose one, nor refuse none.” Although none of the princesses or duke candidates are not of Portia’s interest, Bassanio is. Moreover, whoever attempts to open these caskets and guesses wrong will never marry anyone.
The first one to be announced to choose his casket is prince Morocco who apologizes for his skin color. He chooses gold that reads, “who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
The second one to open one of the caskets and try its luck by opening one of the boxes is the suitor to Portia, The prince of Aragon. He said that he “will not choose what any man desires, because I will not jump with common spirits and rank me with the barbarous multitudes,” and decides to choose the silver that reads, “who cooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
Lastly Bassanio carefully chooses. He is concerned that if he chooses incorrectly he will not marry Portia who he loves. He refuses the gold and silver caskets and chooses the lead casket. He opens it and sees Portia image.
These pictures are fascinating to describe Portia’s marriage decision taken by her father. I also feel that among all three caskets gold, silver, lead, the other two men chose either gold or silver considering Portia’s image must be hidden in either of these two caskets because she is rich. That’s my viewpoint about other two suitors. Bassanio and Portia both want to be in a relationship that is why Bassanio chooses the right casket that has Portia’s image. It could be destiny or fate because everything happens for good.
Even though Bassanio chooses the right casket and that according to her omnipresent all knowing father will lead to marriage with the right man; I’m not convinced. Bassanio hasn’t done anything significant enough to portray his love towards Portia. If anything the love he has towards Antonio prevails as he leaves Portia before the wedding to attend to his best friend’s aid.