What is the occasion of Bassanio's speech? where is he at the moment? What did Portia request him to do before the choosing of caskets ?
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Answers
REQUIRED ANSWERS:-
Q.1.
(i) Bassanio is completing the casket ceremony. Bassanio is in the Palace of Belmont, Portia's home, in the room where the caskets were kept. Portia had requested Bassanio to stay a day or two in Belmont and give her some company, before making his choice of the casket.
(ii) Portia said that soothing music must be played for Bassanio to keep a calm mind while choosing. She tells him that the ending of the song would be like the music sung for a young prince to wake him up for his wedding day if Bassanio chooses the right casket, whereas, if he chooses the wrong casket, the music will end with the song thought to be sung by a crane before drowning.
(iii) Bassanio's reason for rejecting the gold casket is that it is merely a token. All those who have fallen for this metal in greed have regretted it and even have died. While he describes Silver as a slave, moving from one pocket to another. Thus, he chooses neither the golden, nor the silver casket.
(iv) Bassanio chooses the leaden casket as plain and simple as a regal prince, believing in simple life. Rather than outer beaty, it had inner beaty.
Bassanio describes the potrait of Portia, saying as if a demi god himself has offered up his time to make this. The golden hair, the pink cheeks, red lips, deep eyes and many more beatiful features. He says that the potrait seems so alive as it were the real Portia.
(v) After Bassanio succeeds in winning over Portia, Gratiano confesses his love for Nerissa, Portia's hand-maiden, and Nerissa agrees to marrying Gratiano.
Hope it helps.