The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -- Act 2, Scene 1 -- Summary and Analysis
Summary Nerissa and Portia enter with the Prince of Morocco and their own trains. He asks her not to judge him by his dark skin color. She reassures him that had she been able to choose freely, he would have stood an equal chance. He thanks her, and remarks that the method of man choosing is not the soundest. He announces that he wants to play the casket game and exits. Main events Morocco announces he wants to choose a casket Participating Characters Nerissa Portia Morocco Themes appearance and reality (prince's speech); change of appearance Analysis and Discussion this is a generally racist play- against moors too, not just jews. Also, the following words echo Shylock's "if you prick me do I not bleed" speech MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. The name of the character is also racist "morocco" as if they are all alike Nerissa lies to Morocco about his complexio