The Merchant of Venice the Three Caskets Essay
The Three Caskets
Three caskets; one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. Three caskets are set before many suitors who all would like to take Portia of Belmont’s hand in marriage. But Portia’s father’s will states that each suitor who wishes to take Portia’s hand in marriage, must choose one of the three caskets and the one who chooses the correct casket may have the fair Portia’s hand in holy matrimony. This trial, designed by Portia’s late father, allows him to screen through his daughter, Portia’s many suitors; even after his death. Dashing, confident and eloquent; The Prince of Morocco was the first to first of Portia’s suitors to attempt the trial for Portia’s hand in marriage. Morocco seemed to have quite an effect on the fair Portia, “But if my father had not scanted me/…/Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair/As any comer I have looked on yet/For my affection.” (II.i.17-22). Morocco’s cocky attitude and belief that he’s searching for ‘what many men desire’, he choose the casket made of gold and learns that “All that glitters is not gold.” (II.vii.73). The Prince of Morocco then leaves Portia’s Belmont Estate, a very different person from ‘The Prince of Morocco’ that we were introduced to in the beginning of Act 2 compared to the character that in being portrayed now, in this part of the play. The arrogant, Prince of Arragon is the next suitor of Portia to take the trial of the three caskets. The Prince entered the room in which the caskets laid and almost immediately showed no regard towards the caskets made of gold. His reasoning for not choosing the gold casket was, quote on quote, “I will not choose what many men desire,/Because I will not jump with common spirits…” (II.ix.33-34). He then selects the casket made of silver, which is inscribed with a promise, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he/deserves.” (II.vii.8-9). So The Prince of Arragon left Belmont, much in the same way The Prince of Morocco did, a shadow of his former
Three caskets; one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. Three caskets are set before many suitors who all would like to take Portia of Belmont’s hand in marriage. But Portia’s father’s will states that each suitor who wishes to take Portia’s hand in marriage, must choose one of the three caskets and the one who chooses the correct casket may have the fair Portia’s hand in holy matrimony. This trial, designed by Portia’s late father, allows him to screen through his daughter, Portia’s many suitors; even after his death. Dashing, confident and eloquent; The Prince of Morocco was the first to first of Portia’s suitors to attempt the trial for Portia’s hand in marriage. Morocco seemed to have quite an effect on the fair Portia, “But if my father had not scanted me/…/Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair/As any comer I have looked on yet/For my affection.” (II.i.17-22). Morocco’s cocky attitude and belief that he’s searching for ‘what many men desire’, he choose the casket made of gold and learns that “All that glitters is not gold.” (II.vii.73). The Prince of Morocco then leaves Portia’s Belmont Estate, a very different person from ‘The Prince of Morocco’ that we were introduced to in the beginning of Act 2 compared to the character that in being portrayed now, in this part of the play. The arrogant, Prince of Arragon is the next suitor of Portia to take the trial of the three caskets. The Prince entered the room in which the caskets laid and almost immediately showed no regard towards the caskets made of gold. His reasoning for not choosing the gold casket was, quote on quote, “I will not choose what many men desire,/Because I will not jump with common spirits…” (II.ix.33-34). He then selects the casket made of silver, which is inscribed with a promise, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he/deserves.” (II.vii.8-9). So The Prince of Arragon left Belmont, much in the same way The Prince of Morocco did, a shadow of his former