How little is the cost I have bestowed in purchasing the semblance of my soul,(3. 5. 19-20) is where the heart of this play is in my eyes. Portia doing what she can for her one true love, Bassanio. Money is of no importance to her especially when it comes to the happiness or unhappiness of Bassanio. There are many places in the Merchant of Venice that show Portia and Bassanios indifference, and what seems to be apathy toward wealth. Many are hidden and many are as clear as day to the reader. I found that reading into The Merchant of Venice was a fun and interesting experience.
The way Shakespeare wrote his plays makes people really think about what they are reading; it reminded me of a maze. Portia, an unspoiled Princess to riches, a Princess that doesnt need to think or worry about money. It is something she has an unimaginable amount of, yet it doesnt change who she is or what her values are. Her father seemed to instill in her that money isnt everything to everybody; how you care about people and values are what matter the most in life.
When we first see Bassanio, he is telling Antonio of a secret trip he plans to take to win the heart of Portia; yet he has no means to get there due to his extravagant living which has left him in debt to others. At first money seems to be of some importance to Bassanio, but towards the middle of the play his thoughts seem to change. Although Portias father does not have a so-called character in The Merchant of Venice; his presence is definitely felt through Portias character, as well as the scrolls on the caskets. In doing this, Portias father in a way still had a hand helping to choose the right husband for his daughter.
When each of the princes come to woo Portia and go into the casket room, they look for what ould be the most creative answer in picking out the casket. The gold casket scroll reads Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. (2. 7. 4-5). When the reader first sees this, he thinks the gold casket would make the most sense. Portias father would have put her picture in there, because it is gold and full of riches as is Portia. Reading into this the reader might think that Portias father would not put her picture in this one, because love is richer than gold.
The prince that would pick this one is not interested in love only Portias wealth. The second casket made of silver states Who chooseth me hall get as much as he deserves. (2. 7. 7) I have yet to think why any Prince with half a brain would pick this casket over gold or lead. To pick this, deep inside, they did not want to marry Portia. Apparently, the gold wasnt intriguing enough for them yet the lead was too poor. The lead casket would be the most appealing to the Prince who really wants to win Portias heart and not her riches. This scroll reads Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. (2. 7. )
When Bassanio and Portia discuss his choices she asks him to think about his choices carefully because it will determine their future orever. Bassanio although deeply in debt to moneylenders, can see past the gold and silver of the first two caskets, and hazards his chance with the lead casket. The scroll inside this casket proves this point; You that chose not by the view, Chance as fair, and choose as true: Since this fortune falls to you, Be content, and seek no new. If you be well pleasd with this, And hold your fortune for your bliss, Turn you where your lady is, and claim her with a loving kiss. “(3. 2. 30-138) From the beginning of the play, Portia seems for those times more or less of a free spirit.
She has been in Belmont all of her life and knows little about Venice and its residents lifestyles. Portias father seemed to have instilled values and love in Portia from a very young age. She was taught to love and to be kind and that money could not buy love and happiness. Earlier in the play Bassanio borrows 3,000 ducats from Shylock on Antonios word that it will be paid back in full. Shylock is a stereotypical Jew who is a moneylender that insists on charging interest on monies loaned out. He needed this money to go to Portia in Belmont.
If Antonio does not pay back he ducats to Shylock in due time; Shylock will be able to cut off a pound of Antonios flesh anywhere on his body. In 3. 2 of the play, Bassanio receives a letter written by Antonio regarding the money that is owed to Shylock. Portia being concerned about Bassanio asks what the letter is about. Bassanio explains, When I told you my state was nothing, I should then have told you that I was worse than nothing; for indeed I have engagd my friend to his mere enemy, to feed my means. (3. 2. 258-263) Bassanio then tells Portia of the whole deal and the conversation goes on: Por: What sum owes he, the Jew?
Bas: For me, three thousand ducats. Por: What, no more? Pay him six-thousand, and deface the bond; double six-thousand and treble that, before a friend of this description shall lose a hair through Bassanios fault. (3. 2. 297-302) Portia realizes that who Bassanio may have been in the past and how he dealt with his money is nothing like he is now. This is why she doesnt care how much he needs to call of Shylock. The fact that Portia is willing to pay three times the amount owed to Shylock to spare Bassanios friend proves how unimportant money is to her.
In his next portion of Merchant of Venice, Portia tells everyone around her of the unimportance of money and the value of true love and friendship and how that is the most important thing and how Bassanios happiness and the life of his friend Antonio are so important: Por: I never did repent for doing good, nor shall I now: for in companions that do converse and waste the time together, whose souls do bear an egall yoke of love, there must be needs like a proportion of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; which makes me think that this Antonio. Being the bosom lover of my lord, must needs be like my lord.
