This is the scene where Bassanio wants to take his chances with the caskets to win Portia's hand in marriage. Portia begs him to wait a month or so because she's having a great time with Bassanio as it is, and if he fails by choosing the wrong casket, they must say good-bye. However, Bassanio argues that he feels as if he is being tortured by not being able to marry her. Portia relents and allows him to take his chance. This creates dramatic and emotional tension because Bassanio and Portia truly love each other, but if Bassanio chooses the wrong one, he must leave immediately, never see Portia again, and never ask any other woman to marry him as long as he lives.
In order to suspend the tension, Bassanio analyzes each of the caskets, the riddle, the metal, and the philosophy behind each one. He doesn't choose the gold box because gold brings trouble, just as it did for Midas. He doesn't choose silver because it is too commonly used and praised. Therefore, he chooses the lead box because it doesn't make any lofty claims or promises, its looks are not deceiving, and "Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence" (III.ii.106). It is within the lead box that Bassanio finds Portia's picture, which proves he has won her hand in marriage.
The scene then becomes even happier, because just as everyone is rejoicing for Bassanio and Portia, Graziano steps up and tells them that he loves Portia's lady-in-waiting, Nerissa, and wants to marry her. Just as everyone is feeling joyful about two happy couples and future weddings, Salerio shows up with a letter from Antonio informing him that all of his ships have been lost at sea. This is bad news because that means he will lose a pound of his flesh to Shylock, to whom he owes three thousand ducats. Bassanio must flee from Portia's side just as they are experiencing happiness and run to help Antonio.
The characters and the audience experience a rollercoaster of drama and emotions during this scene. The whole scene is intense because Bassanio risks losing his Portia, but just as he wins her, he must also leave to save Antonio. The plot with Shylock thickens as Antonio's ships are all lost and he cannot repay his creditors. Fortunately, Bassanio now has Portia's wealth to draw from in order to try to save Antonio. Portia offers double the amount to pay for Antonio's life and Bassanio leaves, with her permission, to offer six thousand ducats to Shylock.
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