The casket plot sets up the Merchant of Venice. As the plot begins, Bassanio wants to marry Portia.
He asks Antonio for money so he can impress her. Antonio obliges and Bassanio sets out on his merry way.
In the mean time, two suitors have come to seek the hand of Portia. The Prince of Morroco and the Prince of Arrogan(t)
have learned of Portia's father's will. It states that the suitors must pick one of three caskets, gold, silver, or lead.
If they choose right they then get to marry Portia. But if they choose wrong they must leave immediately and cannot woo another woman ever again.
Morroco chooses first. He reads the inscriptions on the caskets and he finds that the inscription on the
golden casket appeals to him. The gold casket declares "who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." He figures that many men desire Portia.
But, he recieves a skull symbolizing he is wrong. Next the Prince of Arragon tries his luck. He reads the gold casket, but doesn't want to be grouped with the ordinary man.
He instead chooses the silver casket which declares "who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." He believes he deserves Portia but he too is wrong. He recieves a picture of a fool (in some productions it is a mirror) and is called a loser.
Finally, Bassanio arrives at the palace. He immediately is drawm to the lead casket wich says," He who chooseth
me must hazard all he hath." Bassanio then finds a vice masked by a virtue in beauty, war, religion, and law. He then applies this to the caskets.
He chooses the lead casket, which contains a picture of Portia so beautiful, that he barely recognizes her. Everyone is delighted and Portia gives Bassanio a ring symbolizing their love, which now introduces the ring plot
