William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, 1600 [1619] - casket scene

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Date:1600

Description:Aragon chooses a casket in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

Shakespeare explores the idea of obedience in women as Portia has agreed to accept her father’s unusual will which states that her future husband must be selected by the suitor’s correct choice between the gold, silver or lead caskets.

See: The Merchant of Venice, 2,9, lines 4-77.


Full title: William Shakespeare, The excellent history of the Merchant of Venice, with the extreme cruelty of Shylocke the Jew, Written by William Shakespeare. [London], printed by J. Roberts, 1600. [i.e. William Jaggard for Thomas Pavier, 1619].


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1570s
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page

Shakespeare may have owned this book. Shakespeare purchased New Place, the largest ...

1590s
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.

Shakespeare’s first published works. The long poem, Venus and Adonis, was ...

1610s
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.

Shakespeare followed this description of Cleopatra. Shakespeare became very ...

1630s
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page

A play for the Blackfriars Theatre: Shakespeare's Love’s Labour’s Lost. The ...

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Donor ref:SR 35.21 [1,169] (32/10527)

Source: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - Library

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