Friday, January 15, 2016

Compare Bassanio and Portia's six suitors other suitors in The Merchant of Venice.Why does Portia choose Bassanio instead of other suitors? Why are...

Your question seems to lack understanding of some of the
details of Portia's situation when she enters the play in Act I, scene
ii.


Portia is not given the opportunity to choose her
husband herself, rather each suitor who arrives to "win" her as his wife must agree to
choose between three caskets, one of which gives the permission to take her as his
wife.  If the suitor should choose incorrectly, he must vow to remain single.  Most of
Portia's potential suitors have been frightened off by this caveat.  So, it isn't Portia
who is to choose her husband at all, but, in an odd fashion, it is her dead father's
choice.


There are only three suitors who actually appear in
the play (and actually go the distance and choose a casket, vying to win Portia's hand)
--  Prince of Morocco, Prince of Arragon and Bassanio.  Though she has shown disdain for
the other suitors, Portia hints at her interest in Bassanio at the end of Act I, scene
ii.


The best way to compare the suitors Morocco and Arragon
is by their reasoning in choosing between silver, gold and lead.  Morocco reckons that
gold is the most valuable of the three and, comparing that to the value of Portia,
chooses gold and chooses wrongly.  Arragon chooses silver because he "assumes" that he
deserves Portia and chooses wrongly.


In Act III, scene ii,
Bassanio chooses to go against appearances and choose lead (the winner).  He
says:



So may
the outward shows be least themselves


The world is still
deceived with ornament.



He
decides to choose "meagre lead," because its "paleness moves [him] more than
eloquence."  He wins Portia's hand by choosing the leaden casket that holds her picture,
not by her decision.

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