WHY DID PRINCE OF ARRAGON CHOOSE SILVER CASKET
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Prince of Arragon (I shall refer to him as Arragon only in this discussion) rejects the lead casket immediately because he thinks that it is not beautiful enough to give and risk all his possessions for. “You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.” He also rejects the gold casket because “what many men desire — that ‘many’ may be meant by the fool multitude that choose by show.” He says he will not choose what many men desire, because he will not jump with common spirits.
Arragon thus chooses the silver casket, which bears the inscription: “who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” He is very confident when he makes his choice and says, “I will assume desert,” meaning that he will take what he deserves. He feels that he rightfully deserves Portia. But what he finds in the casket, is a horrible portrait of a sub-normal person.