Bassanio's speech

In this speech, Bassanio explains the reasoning for his choice of casket using several metaphors and similes. He talks about how looks can be deceiving and one should never judge purely on looks. In the lines, "So may the outward shows be least themselves. The world is still deceived with ornament. In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt but, being seasoned with a gracious voice, obscures the show of evil?", Bassanio is saying that looks can be deceiving in the same way that malicious words can be hidden behind a pleasant voice. Later on in his speech, Bassanio uses another example of the deceptive qualities of looks in the line, "Look on beauty, and you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight, which therein works a miracle in nature, making them lightest that wear most of it." In these lines, Bassanio is commenting on how makeup can make anyone look beautiful and it can be bought. He says that makeup has the ability to work miracles. He is essentially saying that beauty can be bought and therefore it can't be real. He goes on to say that those who wear makeup the most tend to be respected the least, which provides a social commentary to society's thoughts on makeup during the time period.
   In my research, I found an essay by E.J West that stated that Bassanio's choosing of the lead casket is actually an allusion to the movement in England where architects and engineers began to move away from aesthetically pleasing buildings and technology and began to focus on function above all else. I found this analysis to be very interesting as it took such a small part of the story and connected it to a massive technological movement that was taking place in England. West argues that this is an example of Shakespeare's ability to connect his plays with the real world.