Scene Introduction:
Setting: Portia’s house in Belmont.
Characters: Prince of Morocco, Portia, Nerissa, attendants.
Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white…
- Stage Direction: “Tawny Moor” refers to Morocco’s dark skin. He wears white, a striking visual contrast—perhaps to emphasize nobility and highlight racial identity.
- Theme: Race and identity introduced immediately.
MOROCCO:
“Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.”
- Meaning: Don’t dislike me because of my skin color—it’s the result of living near the hot sun.
- Techniques: Metaphor—“shadowed livery” means his skin is like a uniform from the sun.
- Themes: Prejudice, appearance vs. reality.
“Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus’ fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.”
- Meaning: Compare me with the palest northern man, and let’s cut ourselves to see whose blood is redder—showing I’m just as human and passionate.
- Techniques: Allusion (Phoebus = sun god), hyperbole (cutting for love), imagery (icicles vs. fire).
- Themes: Love, equality, appearances.
“I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant; by my love I swear
The best regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too.”
- Meaning: My face has frightened brave men and attracted admired women where I come from.
- Tone: Confident, boastful.
- Themes: Cultural difference, pride.
“I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.”
- Meaning: I’m proud of my skin—would only change it to win your heart.
- Technique: Flattery, metaphor.
- Themes: Desire, insecurity masked as confidence.
PORTIA:
“In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes;”
- Meaning: I don’t get to choose based on who I like.
- Theme: Duty vs. desire.
“Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.”
- Meaning: My fate is controlled by the lottery of the caskets—my father’s test.
- Themes: Fate, patriarchy, obedience.
“But if my father had not scanted me…
Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.”
- Meaning: If I could choose freely, you’d be just as worthy as any man I’ve seen.
- Technique: Polite diplomacy.
- Themes: Love, limitations, fairness.
MOROCCO:
“Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune.”
- Meaning: Thank you. Let me try my luck now.
- Theme: Chance, determination.
“By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman…”
- Meaning: Swearing on his sword—he’s a brave warrior who’s fought powerful men.
- Techniques: Allusion (Sophy, Solyman), symbolism (scimitar = power).
- Theme: Masculinity, honor.
“I would o’erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the Earth…”
- Meaning: I can outface any bold man.
- Technique: Hyperbole.
- Theme: Courage, confidence.
“Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady.”
- Meaning: He’d risk even nature’s wrath (take cubs from a bear, tease a lion) to win Portia.
- Technique: Dramatic imagery.
- Theme: Romantic idealism, bravery.
“But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man…”
- Meaning: Even heroes may lose if fate (dice) is unkind.
- Allusion: Hercules = great hero; Lychas = weaker attendant.
- Theme: Fate vs. merit.
“And so may I, blind Fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.”
- Meaning: I may lose because of luck, even if I deserve to win.
- Technique: Personification (Fortune = blind), irony.
- Theme: Justice vs. luck, humility.
PORTIA:
“You must take your chance
And either not attempt to choose at all
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.”
- Meaning: You must either try and accept the risk (never marrying again), or not try at all.
- Theme: Rules, risk, destiny.
MOROCCO:
“Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.”
- Meaning: I’m ready. Let me try my luck.
- Theme: Determination, courage.
PORTIA:
“First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.”
- Meaning: First we go to the temple (likely to make the oath), then you’ll choose after dinner.
- Theme: Ceremony, fate.
MOROCCO:
“Good fortune then,
To make me blest—or cursed’st among men!”
- Meaning: May luck bless me—or make me the most cursed man!
- Theme: Fortune’s role in love.
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