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The Merchant Of Venice: Theme Of The Nature Of True Love - Online Term Paper

The Merchant Of Venice: Theme Of The Nature Of True Love

Among the various themes presented in the Merchant of Venice the
most important is the nature of true love. The casket plot helps
illustrate the theme. Through a variety of suitors the descriptions of the
caskets, Shakespeare shows the reader how different people view true love.
He also shows what is most important to the suitors and in some cases it is
not true love, but material things and outward appearance.
The first suitor who tries to win Portia's hand is the Prince of
Morocco. When he first arrives in Belmont, the reader can see how arrogant
the prince is, He says, "The best regarded virgins of our clilme/ hath
loved it too…" (2.1, 10-11). He is referring to the color of his ...

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up everything.
The Prince, after looking at the inscription of the gold casket, which read
"'who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire'" (2.7, 37), decides that
what he desires most is the Portia's hand so the gold must be the correct
casket. He insists that the gold casket is the one holding Portia's
picture because she is so much worthier than the lead casket. The Prince
believes that because many men desire Portia, the gold casket must be the
correct one. When the Prince opens the casket, he finds a skull and a
scroll, not Portia's picture. The scroll warns, "all that glitters is not
gold…" (2.7,66) and that wealth is not the most important thing. The
Prince, having shallow reasoning only wanted to marry Portia because of her
wealth. He leaves, having promised, as all the suitors had, to remain
celibate if he should pick the wrong casket. Portia then awaits the next
suitor who will try to win her hand in marriage.
The Prince of Arragon, the next suitor to try his ...

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The Merchant Of Venice: Theme Of The Nature Of True Love. (2006, August 27). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Merchant-Venice-Theme-Nature-True-Love/51459

"The Merchant Of Venice: Theme Of The Nature Of True Love." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 Aug. 2006. Web. 11 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Merchant-Venice-Theme-Nature-True-Love/51459>

"The Merchant Of Venice: Theme Of The Nature Of True Love." Essayworld.com. August 27, 2006. Accessed January 11, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Merchant-Venice-Theme-Nature-True-Love/51459.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/27/2006 10:23:12 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1075
Pages: 4

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