The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -- Act 2, Scene 1 -- Summary and Analysis

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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 complexion being ok - in the previous act she told Portia it wasn’t:

PORTIA If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a
heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should
be glad of his approach: if he have the condition
of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me.


Table of Contents: The Merchant of Venice -- Summary and Analysis

The Merchant of Venice. Image source

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