Do you think Portia is racially prejudiced against Prince of Morocco? How does the Prince of Morocco respond to Portia’s comment on his black skin? Explain in detail with suitable reference from the text wherever necessary. ( merchant of Venice)
Please answEd fast
Answers
Yes, Portia is racially prejudiced against the Prince of Morocco, but her prejudice does not matter in the casket scene.
In Act 1 Scene 2, when she gets to know that the prince is coming to try his luck, Portia speaks these lines:
“ If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.”
So, according to her, even if the prince is a saint by nature, but has a dark complexion, like that of the devil, she would not want to marry him. Instead she would treat him like a priest and speak to him about her since rather than marrying him and speaking to him about love. It is clear that complexion is a big consideration for Portia, and in her mind, she has already rejected the prince, thus showing her prejudice.
Morocco is well aware of his dark skin tone. So, as soon as he enters the room, he tells Portia not to 'mislike' him for his 'complexion'. He is dark simply because of the geographical location of his country. He also tells her that the colour of one's skin does not determine how brave one is.
Portia makes it clear to him that skin colour is not a criteria in this case, because she cannot choose a husband according to her own wishes. Instead, she is bound by her father's casket test. Everything rests on the casket test and so the competition is ‘fair’ and the prince does not have any disadvantage.
More answers from 'The Merchant of Venice':
https://brainly.in/question/31303598
https://brainly.in/question/10336407
https://brainly.in/question/25371077
https://brainly.in/question/26190002