Available Answers

1. 1.

   Let us compare how each suitor thinks about the three caskets. Complete the grid below to observe each suitor's point of view.

   	prince of Morocco	prince of Arragon	Bassanio
   gold casket	Gold is the most precious of metals, most worthy.
   silver casket		Silver represents wealth.
   lead casket			the humblest of the three, therefore the most genuine

    

2. 2.

   Is the prince of Morocco conscious of his skin colour and a little apologetic about it? What words support your answer? How does Portia respond to that feeling of his?(para 1 and 2)

3. 3.

   Is the Prince of Morocco, nevertheless, proud of his brave deeds and well-mannered in his speech? What makes you say so?

4. 4.

   Look at the prince of Morocco's reaction to the inspirations on the caskets. What do you think of the way he dismisses lead as dull and dross−'not worthy of a golden mind'? (Who is judging by colour now?) (para 9)

5. 5.

   How does the prince of Arragon let protia know that he is aware of the rules? What are the rules and how did he get to know them? What is portia's response to Arragon's statement? (para 15 and 16)

6. 6.

   What is Arragon's response to the inscription on the golden casket? Do you think he is something of a snob? (see how he refers to 'the fool multitude,' 'the common spirits' and 'the barbarous multitude'. (para 17)