What was in the silver casket merchant of venice?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
What were the inscriptions and contents of the three caskets and what significance do they play on the course of the plot in The Merchant of Venice?
The significance of the caskets lies in the fact that they show love as being the most important factor in marriage. The riddle of the three caskets was devised by Portia's father to weed out all the foolish, ignorant gold-diggers beating a path to her door. The gold and silver caskets symbolize the sin of greed—one of the play's recurring themes—and how fleeting and unimportant are the things of this world in comparison with love. Most aristocratic marriages at that time were arranged by families, strategic alliances based on wealth and power. So Portia's father, by insisting on a smart suitor who genuinely loves Portia for herself and not for her money, is doing something quite unique in setting up the riddle.
The gold casket bears the inscription:
"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."
Unfortunately for Morocco, he thinks that "what many men desire" is gold, so he chooses the gold casket, displaying his greed for all to see. However, when he opens the casket he gets a nasty surprise: a skull with an inscription that reads:
All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscrolled.
Fare you well. Your suit is cold—
Cold, indeed, and labor lost. (Act II Scene VII)
So that's the end of Morocco's chances. Up next is the silver casket, which bears the following inscription:
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."
The second suitor, the Duke of Arragon, is rather like the first in that he values surface over substance, so he unwisely plumps for the silver casket. Inside, he finds a picture of a fool holding a scroll. On that scroll is written the following:
How much unlike art thou to Portia!
How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
"Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves"! (Act II Scene IX).
Finally, and with a little help from Portia's none-too-subtle hints, comes Bassanio, the man she wants to marry. As we saw earlier, in act 2, scene 7, the inscription on the lead casket reads:
"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."
Bassanio shows himself a worthy suitor by ignoring all the surface glitter of the gold and silver caskets and choosing the lead casket, the one that symbolizes humility and modesty. When Bassanio opens up the casket, he's delighted to find a portrait of fair Portia with a scroll that says:
You that choose not by the view,
Chance as fair and choose as true.
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content and seek no new.
If you be well pleased with this
And hold your fortune for your bliss,
Turn you where your lady is
And claim her with a loving kiss. (Act III Scene II).
Answer:
Answer:
Explanation:
What were the inscriptions and contents of the three caskets and what significance do they play on the course of the plot in The Merchant of Venice?
The significance of the caskets lies in the fact that they show love as being the most important factor in marriage. The riddle of the three caskets was devised by Portia's father to weed out all the foolish, ignorant gold-diggers beating a path to her door. The gold and silver caskets symbolize the sin of greed—one of the play's recurring themes—and how fleeting and unimportant are the things of this world in comparison with love. Most aristocratic marriages at that time were arranged by families, strategic alliances based on wealth and power. So Portia's father, by insisting on a smart suitor who genuinely loves Portia for herself and not for her money, is doing something quite unique in setting up the riddle.
The gold casket bears the inscription:
"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."
Unfortunately for Morocco, he thinks that "what many men desire" is gold, so he chooses the gold casket, displaying his greed for all to see. However, when he opens the casket he gets a nasty surprise: a skull with an inscription that reads:
All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscrolled.
Fare you well. Your suit is cold—
Cold, indeed, and labor lost. (Act II Scene VII)
So that's the end of Morocco's chances. Up next is the silver casket, which bears the following inscription:
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."
The second suitor, the Duke of Arragon, is rather like the first in that he values surface over substance, so he unwisely plumps for the silver casket. Inside, he finds a picture of a fool holding a scroll. On that scroll is written the following:
How much unlike art thou to Portia!
How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
"Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves"! (Act II Scene IX).
Finally, and with a little help from Portia's none-too-subtle hints, comes Bassanio, the man she wants to marry. As we saw earlier, in act 2, scene 7, the inscription on the lead casket reads:
"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."
Bassanio shows himself a worthy suitor by ignoring all the surface glitter of the gold and silver caskets and choosing the lead casket, the one that symbolizes humility and modesty. When Bassanio opens up the casket, he's delighted to find a portrait of fair Portia with a scroll that says:
You that choose not by the view,
Chance as fair and choose as true.
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content and seek no new.
If you be well pleased with this
And hold your fortune for your bliss,
Turn you where your lady is
And claim her with a loving kiss. (Act III Scene II)