EXAMINING THE PLAY


Looking at Themes False Appearances


The theme of false appearances is central to The Merchant of Venice. In the play, things are often not what they appear to be:


l l The casket test reminds us that appearances can be deceptive.


Shylock pretends that the ‘pound of flesh’ is simply a ‘merry sport’, when we know in reality he wishes to have revenge on Antonio and would like to see him dead.


l Jessica, Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as men to deceive others.


False Appearances and the Casket Test The casket test is basically a test to see which suitor does not judge on appearances. Appearances can be deceptive. The Prince of Morocco is first to find this out when he tries his luck at the caskets in Act 2, Scene 7. The Prince of Morocco rejects the lead casket, saying that ‘’Twere damnation to think so base a thought’ (Act 2, Scene 7, lines 49–50). He also dismisses the silver casket as ‘Being ten times undervalued to tried gold’ (line 53). When he chooses the gold casket, he finds a skull and a scroll inside which warns: ‘All that glisters is not gold’ (line 65). The Prince of Morocco, by choosing the most obvious casket, leaves disappointed.


The next suitor, the Prince of Arragon also bases his judgements on appearances and is unsuccessful. He interprets the inscription ‘Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves’ (Act 2, Scene 9, line 35) to mean that he deserves Portia, when in fact this is false. Again, he is punished for judging on appearances.


Bassanio doesn’t judge by appearances and he is therefore rewarded with Portia’s hand in marriage in Act 3, Scene 2. Before choosing he contemplates the idea of false appearances:


So may the outward show be least themselves: The world is still deceived by ornament. (Act 3, Scene 2, lines 73–74)


Bassanio comments that women adopt false appearances by wearing fake hair and make- up ‘purchased by the weight’ (line 89). He claims that even though this may work ‘a miracle in nature’ (line 90), it makes those who wear it seem shallow. With this logic, he rejects the ‘gaudy gold’ (line 101) casket in favour of the ‘meagre lead’ (line 104) one. He is rewarded for his reluctance to be drawn in by outward displays or false appearances.


However, it could be argued that Bassanio himself is guilty of projecting a false appearance. When he arrives to woo Portia, he appears to be a wealthy suitor, but in reality he has had to borrow money to put on this elaborate show. When he lands at Belmont bringing ‘Gifts of rich value’ (Act 2, Scene 9, line 90) Bassanio is misrepresenting himself.


236 The Merchant of Venice


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