Three Suitors In The Merchant Of Venice Essay

Portia's Three Suitors in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

What do the words of the three suitors in the casket scenes reveal of their characters, their attitudes and their values? Refer closely to the differences in their speeches when making their choice of casket. Do you think that Bassanio deserved to win Portia's hand in marriage?

The three suitors are distinct in their own way. You find that as you are reading the play that the choice of casket is also judging the person who is choosing. It makes you think what was Portia's add was up to when designing the caskets. He was trying to make sure that Portia marries a person who has good values, a good attitude of life and a good character.

The silver casket is the one that appeals to him the most because he feels that no one deserving should go unmerited. His arrogance leads him to assume that he is worthy of Portia. Before he opens the casket he says, 'I will assume dessert…' meaning that he will get what he assumes he deserves. His reaction when he finds that he was unsuccessful also highlights his arrogance because he is so incredulous and cannot believe this is happening to him:

'Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?

Is that my prize? Are my desserts no better?'

In this he finds that he is not as great as he thought he was and realises that he was wrong in judgement. He is so deflated that one could feel sympathy for him. But he graciously accepts his fate and makes a dignified exit:

I'll keep my oath,

Patiently to bear my wroth.'

He leaves by keeping to the oath he swore before choosing. His choice indicates that Arragon represents love controlled by intellect because from his point of view choosing the silver casket was the obvious and right choice. He was blind to his own pride. Looking at the scroll

The problem is that he does not apply this to himself.

Bassanio --------

Bassanio is the last of the three suitors and since he has appeared several times throughout the play before the audience know him quite well before he meets Portia. He is portrayed as neither proud nor arrogant but shows himself to be nervous around Portia indicating he may be inexperienced with women. This contrasts with the attitudes of the other two suitors, as they are full of self-importance. Their purpose amongst others is to make Bassanio appear honourable.

He is significant and by far the most important of the three suitors because Portia actually displays interest for him. He also receives a good report from the messenger at the end of Act II Scene 6 before he enters unlike the other two suitors. He receives better treatment than the other two suitors do. Portia plays music in the background perhaps to calm him and soothe him into the right frame of mind so that he may choose correctly. Also the wording could give Bassanio a hint on what to choose. She also tries to delay him in taking the test,

'…for, in choosing