Why does Bassanio choose correctly?

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Why does Bassanio choose correctly?

Throughout the play, Bassanio’s main focus has been his quest to Belmont in bid to attempt and succeed in the casket challenge laid by Portia’s father. Primarily, Shakespeare presents Bassanio to the audience as being motivated in his aim by the fact that Portia is a lady “richly left”. This is shown by the order in which he describes the features of Portia that makes attracts him to her. “In Belmont is a lady richly left, and she is fair, and fairer than that word”. However, Bassanio differs from Portia’s other suitors, as Portia actually displays interest for him. He also receives a good report from the messenger at the end of Act 2 Scene 9 before he enters unlike the other two suitors. “Madam, there is alighted at your gate a young Venetian…I have not seen so likely an ambassador of love”. Nevertheless, in Venice, Bassanio is presented as being initially focused upon Portia’s money, but Shakespeare presents Bassanio differently in Belmont. There is mutual anxiety between Portia and Bassanio, even though they disagree when the casket challenge should begin. When Portia critically questions Bassanio’s methods, Bassanio describes the true love that is shared between the two, and his words dissolve Portia’s worries. “O happy torment, when my torturer doth teach me answers for deliverance but let me to my fortune and the caskets”. When Bassanio begins to justify the choice of his casket, the audience is presented with a man who is deeply in love with Portia. This presentation by Shakespeare encourages the audience to view Bassanio’s motives as sincere and genuine, indicating that it is Bassanio’s true love for Portia than causes him to choose correctly.

However, even though Bassanio’s motives whilst in Belmont may be sincere, there is also much evidence to view that Portia deliberately encourages Bassanio to choose the lead casket. The audience are shown Portia’s true feelings through her anxiety at the start of Act 3 Scene 2, where she begs Bassanio to delay choosing the caskets in fear that she will lose him if he chooses incorrectly. “O these naughty times put bars between the owners and their rights. And so though yours, not yours”. Portia is portrayed as uneasy and is presented as being emotionally uncontrolled, a trait yet to be shown in the play. Previous to Bassanio’s arrival, Portia is presented as a controlled, witty and clever woman, especially with her treatment of her past visitors. “Thus hath the candle singed the moth. O these deliberate fools, when they do choose, they have the wisdom by their wit to lose”. However, her behaviour with Bassanio would imply her feelings are deeper, which encourages her to play music prior to Bassanio’s choose, a condition that was not given to the prior suitors. By playing music, Portia is showing her huge desire for Bassanio to choose correctly, which justifies the view that the love between the two is true. However, Portia may also be presenting the lack of confidence she possesses in Bassanio, and therefore is attempting to blatantly force Bassanio to choose correctly. This would therefore justify that Portia’s hints are why Bassanio chooses correctly, as Portia may have believed that Bassanio’s choice would be incorrect, and therefore viewed as unsuitable.

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However, it can be argued that it is not Portia’s lack of faith for Bassanio that makes her play the music, but her desire for Bassanio. This is justified by her anxiety prior to the challenge as well as her delight following Bassanio’s correct choice. “How all the other passions fleet to air, as doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, and shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy”. Portia poetically describes her fear of Bassanio’s motives evaporating as Bassanio correctly chooses the lead casket. Portia also prays in the aside for help in containing her emotions. “O love be moderate, allay thy ecstasy, ...

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