The Caskets in the Merchant of Venice

In Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, the nature of man is shown on the


inscriptions of the caskets.   The gold casket represents what men desire, the silver casket


represents what men deserve, and the lead casket represents a man’s duty in marriage.


The gold casket represents the desires of many men.   Its inscription reads, “Who chooseth


me shall gain what many men desire.”   Any man, who only desires Portia, will not get his desire.


The Prince of Morocco says that many women find him handsome.   He desires Portia because


she is beautiful, just like he believes he is.   He learned that his vanity and greed will not gain him


her hand in marriage.   His vanity is shown when he decides to go straight to the caskets, before


getting to know Portia better.   Greed is shown when he chooses the gold casket because it is “ten


times” more valued than the silver or the gold.


The silver casket represents what many men deserve.   Its inscription reads, “Who


chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”   A man is not deserving of Portia until he has


gotten to know her first.   The Prince of Aragon learned that stupidity and always wanting to take


the safe road will earn him nothing in life.   Like Morocco, he is stupid for not getting to know


Portia before he chooses the casket.   He takes the safe road by not choosing the gold casket


because it is too showy, and by not choosing the lead casket because he does not want to give


anything.


The lead casket represents a man’s duty in marriage.   Its inscription reads, “Who chooseth


me must give and hazard all he hath.”   In order to receive a gift as precious as Portia, he must


learn how to give everything to her.   Bassiano was the only smart suitor.   He realized that the


only way to receive is to give of himself.   He asks himself if maybe the caskets...