Understanding Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice by Robert A. Albano - HTML preview

The Prince of Aragon, before he can make his selection, promises to obey three rules (again, note the number):

1. He must not reveal to anyone whichcasket he chose and what he foundinside.
2. He must promise never to get married to anyone if he fails to choose the rightcasket.
3. He must immediately leave Belmont if he choosesincorrectly.

The risk is great; but Aragon, like Morocco, feels that the prize is worth that risk.

The suitor from Aragon then proceeds to read the inscriptions (or riddles) and to make his choice. The Prince rejects thelead casket, the inscription of which reads that he “must give and hazard all he hath” (20). He asserts that the casket must be fairer (more beautiful) before he would risk or gamble on it. Like Morocco, the Prince of Aragon is judgingbyappearances.

Aragon also rejects thegold casket, the inscription of which read that the chooser “shall gain what many men desire” (23). The Prince interprets the words “many men”to indicate the foolish masses or multitude. The Prince of Aragon feels that he is superior to common men. Aragon is, then, a rather proudman.

That leaves thesilver casket, which carries the inscription that the chooser “shall get as much as he deserves” (35). Because he is a proud man, the Prince of Aragon firmly believes that he ismore