The Merchant of Venice. by Aaron cooke

William Shakespeare

14acooke — 2015-11-11 15:35:46 UTC

Casket Inscriptions

14acooke — 2015-11-16 11:13:11 UTC

GOLD: Who chooses me shall gain what many men desires.

SILVER: Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.

LEAD: Who chooses me must give and hazard all he hath.

Rules of the choice.

14acooke — 2015-11-16 13:57:54 UTC

* If you are to lose, you must not talk to any other maid in way of marriage .

* After you choose, if you find that you got it wrong, you cannot speak to any other man about your choice.

Brutus's Story

14acooke — 2015-11-16 14:03:24 UTC

Before Portia's father died, he left her a will. On it left his royalty, but in one condition. She cannot choose who she wants to marry. Her husband will be determined by the caskets. If Portia tells a suitor which casket contains her picture (if picked the suitor will be Portia's husband) or refuses to marry the suitor that chose the right casket, she must go and leave her royalty behind.

The Suitors

14acooke — 2015-11-18 15:17:12 UTC

All suitors except two decided to take a chance and choose a casket. The two who were brave enough to face the challenge were the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon. The Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket. Inside he found "a Carrion of Death, within whose empty eye, there is a written scroll". The scroll stated that "All that glisters is not gold, Often have you heard that told; Many a man his life hath sold but my my outside to behold. Gilded tombs do worms infold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, Your answer had not been inscroll'd. Fare you well, your suit is cold. Cold indeed, and labor lost: Then farewell heat, and welcome frost!" The Prince of Arragon unlocks the silver casket. Inside he finds the portrait of "a blinking idiot". Beside the portrait he finds a schedule. He reads, "The fire seven times tried this: Seven times tried that judgement is, That did never choose amiss. Some there be that shadows kiss, Such have but a shadow's bliss. There be fools alive, iwis, Silver'd o'er, and so was this. Take what wife you will to bed, I will ever be your head. So be gone, you are sped. Still more fool I shall appear By the time I linger here. With one fool's head I came to woo, But I go away with two. Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, Patiently to bear my wroth. Finally Bassanio arrives at Portia's palace, hoping to choose the correct casket and marry Portia.