Question

Meaning of act 2 scence 7 of merchant of venice....plz help guys

Answer 1

Back in Belmont, Portia shows the prince of Morocco to the caskets, where he will attempt to win her hand by guessing which chest contains her portrait. The first casket, made of gold, is inscribed with the words, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire” ie he who chooses me will get what many men desire. The second, made of silver, reads, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves” ie he who chooses me will get what he deserves. The third, a heavy leaden casket, declares, “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath” is he who chooses me must give and risk all that he has. The Prince rejects lead casket saying that he would never risk his everything for lead. He decides to choose the silver casket as he thinks he deserves the lady but moves on to check gold casket. He chooses the gold casket reasoning that only the most precious metal could house the picture of such a beautiful woman. He opens the chest to reveal a skull with a scroll in its eye socket. After reading a short poem chastising him for the folly of his choice, the prince makes a hasty departure. Portia is glad to see him go and hopes that “all of his complexion choose me so” ie suitors who have a complexion similar to that of Prince of Morocco should choose her the way he chose.

Hope it helps.