In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, what qualities of Bassanio are highlighted in the casket challenge?

In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Bassanio not only captures Portia's heart, but he truly loves her as well. This causes Portia to tell Bassanio to wait before he chooses a casket because if he fails, he will have to leave her side forever. Bassanio says that it is torture not to have her as his wife immediately, so he wants to try his luck by choosing from her father's gold, silver, and lead caskets for the one that will tell him he may marry her. As Bassanio deliberates about which casket would contain Portia's picture, he reasons about what each one might represent. For example, gold and silver are beautiful metals, worth a lot, and can also make pretty decorations or ornaments. However, he believes, these metals can be deceiving just like people. Some people who look courageous by wearing beards like Hercules or Mars seem brave, but are cowards inside. Bassanio decides that beauty and the world's value on gold and silver can be deceiving, which prompts him to say the following:

"The seeming truth which cunning times put on

To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee.

Nor none of thee [to silver], thou pale and common drudge . . .

But thou, thou meagre lead,

Which rather threaten'st than dost promise aught

Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence,

And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!" (III.ii.100-107).

Through Bassanio's thoughts, he proves himself wise. He shows that he values the true worth of life and people before the facades that the world produces to deceive. Bassanio chooses the lead box because it not only represents strength, but it isn't as deceitful as gold and silver might be. For example, when Bassanio says of lead, "Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence," he says that he would prefer the pure truth of a thing, situation or person rather than the pomp and circumstance of any false presentation. He's wise, sensitive, and not superficial or too worldly. Thus, Bassanio chooses the correct casket that contains Portia's picture because he has the correct reasoning within him to be a good husband for Portia.