The Sunday News
MOROCCO, Arragon and Bassanio choose the gold, silver and lead caskets respectively. Today we would like to find out why these suitors choose as they do, and what aspects of their characters these choices reveal.
Morocco reads the inscriptions on the three caskets. The first of gold bears the inscription: “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” The second silver, which this promise carries: “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
From this reading we are made aware of all the inscriptions on the three caskets chosen and rejected by the suitors.
Morocco surveys the inscriptions back again trying to understand each one of them. Analysing the leaden casket again he asks, “Must give — for what? For lead, hazard for lead!” Then he goes on to say that the leaden casket threatens — men that hazard all do it in hope for good profits. A golden mind does not stoop for displays of what is worthless. He decides that he will neither give nor hazard all for lead. To him lead is too threatening and not worth risking anything for.
Moving on Morocco considers the silver casket which bears the inscription, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” He pauses on the expression , “as much as he deserves,” to weigh himself with a fair hand. He exposes his own fear that he does not deserve Portia. “Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough may not extend so far as to the lady.” But to believe that his own worth, even as he values it himself, would not be enough to win the lady seems to bring discredit on his person.
However, Morocco is convinced that he truly deserves Portia. He says he deserves her in birth, maybe because of his royalty of nature. He deserves in fortunes, in graces, and in qualities of breeding. Above all, more than these he claims he deserves her because he loves her. For the second time he considers the saying engraved in gold. He concludes that what many men desire is the lady, Portia. All the world desires her and many suitors come from all over the world to woo her. He is filled with passionate love such that he begins to use religious language in talking of Portia.
He says they come “to kiss this shrine”. This image of a shrine portrays Portia as if she were a saint, “this mortal breathing saint.” Looking back at the leaden casket, Morocco has a feeling that it is likely that the leaden casket might contain Portia’s picture, but quickly brushes that thought aside saying that would be damnation to think so base a thought. Lead is a base metal so to think Portia’s picture could be in such a casket is unfathomable to Morocco.
Turning to the silver casket, he feels it is sinful to ever think Portia’s picture could be immured there being ten times undervalued to tried gold. Morocco speaks of Portia as a precious stone (gem) fit only for a setting in gold. He makes up his mind that therefore her picture should be in the golden casket. He asks for the key with high hopes of success.
In the golden casket he finds “a carrion death”, that is, a skull, which reminds him of death. He has been too bold in his reasoning, and risked too much.
Morocco judges from outside appearances. He learns from the writing on the scroll, “All that glisters is not gold; often have you heard that told.” This befits his character which is insecure and shallow. He exposes his fear that he does not deserve Portia. He considers silver as not good enough for Portia. He settles upon the gold casket thinking that “what many men desire describes Portia.
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.
Prince of Morocco’s choice is straightforward. He chose the gold casket because it seemed the most obvious, and most desirable choice. In contrast, Arragon’s choice is done with more prudence. Arragon is a proud man. Critics state that often Shakespeare makes his characters’ names suggest their primary qualities. Here probably Arragon was chosen for its resemblance to “arrogant.” Arragon considers the caskets, but he does not make Morocco’s obvious choice. If gold represents “what many men desire” then Arragon’s powerful belief in his own superiority to the fool multitude that choose by show, makes him reject it.
Arragon rejects lead because of the ominous warning, and thinks that gold refers to the foolish populace. Instead he chooses silver which indicates he will receive what he deserves. Arragon is arrogant and proud. This is shown through his reaction to choosing the wrong casket. He thinks gold is too common for him therefore discards it. He does not even stop to contemplate the lead casket saying it would have to look attractive for him to hazard anything for it. His arrogance leads him to assume that he is worthy of Portia.
His reaction after being unsuccessful highlights his arrogance because he is so incredulous and cannot believe it. He is blind to his own pride. Contrary to Bassanio, Morocco and Arragon are full of self-importance. Bassanio chooses the lead casket making a good point which centres on “do not judge a book by its cover.” The other two suitors are materialistic and judge things by outside appearances.
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