Available Answers

1. 1.

   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?

2. 2.

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

3. 3.

   Look at Morocco's reaction to the inscriptions 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?)

4. 4.

   How does the Prince of Arragon let Portia 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?

5. 5.

   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'.)

6. 6.

   Think of Bassanio's long speech rejecting the golden casket. Is his strong condemnation of pretence and falsehood in society justified in the context- or is it somewhat overdone? See how he then goes on to choose the lead casket with large-hearted expressions like 'thou meagre lead' and 'thy plainness moves me more than eloquence'.