The Caskets The significance of the caskets’ inscriptions in the play, The Merchant of Venice were that each message on the outside of the caskets left clues to which one is the casket that will win Portia and her fortune. There were three caskets: one filled with gold, one filled with silver, and one filled with lead. The inscriptions are written in riddle-like verses that require hard thinking to under- stand them. The inscriptions on …showed first 75 words of 494 total…

…showed last 75 words of 494 total…Be content and seek no new. If you be well pleased with this And hold your fortune for your bliss, Turn you where your lady is, And claim her with a loving kiss.” I guess Bassanio chose the lead because he was willing to hazard everything he had to be with Portia (and her fortune). Each casket inscription hinted that the lead casket was the winner. The suitor just had to do some deep thinking.