Casket Essay Research Paper The CasketsThe significance

Casket Essay, Research Paper

The Coffins

The significance of the coffins letterings in the drama, The Merchant of Venice were that each message on the exterior of the coffins left hints to which one is the coffin that will win Portia and her luck. There were three coffins: one filled with gold, one filled with Ag, and one filled with lead. The letterings are written in riddle-like poetries that require difficult thought to under- stand them. The letterings on the interior of the coffins are poems that learn a small kind of life lesson and so state the suer if he is right or incorrect in the choosing.

The coffin of gold had an exterior lettering that said ; Who chooseth me shall derive what many work forces desire.

Morocco, the first of Portia s suers that we meet, chooses the gold coffin because he says, Why, that s the lady! All the universe desires her. He chose the incorrect coffin.

Once he opens the coffin, he finds a coil that reads,

All that glisters is non gold-

Frequently have you heard that told.

Many a adult male his life hath sold

But my outside to lay eyes on.

Gilded graves do worms infold.

Had you been every bit broad as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgement old,

Your reply had non been enscrolled.

Menu you good, your suit is cold.

This message explains the exterior lettering. Many work forces desire the gold. Morocco misunderstood and thought that the lettering meant many work forces desire Portia.

The Ag Ca

ket has an lettering that says ; Who chooseth me shall acquire what he deserves. Arragon, the 2nd suer, chooses the Ag coffin. Once he opens the coffin, a coil reads,

The fire seven times tried this ;

Seven times tried that opinion is

That did ne’er take amiss.

Some there be that shadows buss ;

Such have but a shadow s cloud nine.

Take what married woman you will to bed,

I will of all time be your caput.

So begone ; you are sped.

He was besides incorrect. If he read it carefully, he would hold realized that it would hold been so easy to add, You should hold chosen the lead. Arragon misunderstood the exterior lettering because he thought that he deserved Portia.

The lead coffin has an lettering, Who chooseth me must give and guess all he hath. Bassanio chooses the lead coffin. He opens the coffin and finds the coil that tells him that he chose right.

You choose non by the position

Opportunity as just and choose as true.

Since this luck falls to you,

Be content and seek no new.

If you be good pleased with this

And keep your luck for your cloud nine,

Bend you where your lady is,

And claim her with a loving buss.

I guess Bassanio chose the lead because he was willing to guess everything he had to be with Portia ( and her luck ) .

Each coffin lettering hinted that the lead coffin was the victor. The suer merely had to make some deep thought.