While Portia does not seem to dislike the Prince of
Morocco as she does the foolish Arragon, she certainly did not want to marry him. Her
comment after he chooses the incorrect casket demonstrates this. She says in an
aside:
"A
gentle riddance! Draw the curtains, go. / Let all of his complexion choose me so"
(2.7.86-87).
Shakespeare's
use of the word "complexion" could be interrupted in several ways. Many take it to mean
that Portia is prejudiced and that she does not want to marry someone of a different
race. However, there is not any other evidence in the play to support this view of her,
and since Shakespeare presents Portia as an admirable character, it is difficult to
argue that he would paint her as a racist (since he often berates prejudice in his
plays).
A second interpretation of the word is that it
refers to Morocco's "type." The audience knows from his speech to Portia at the
beginning of Act 2 that Morocco has a high opinion of his effect upon women. We also
know from Portia's conversation with Nerissa in Act 1 that Portia has a very specific
list of qualities that she does not like in men, and Morocco has some of those
characteristics (for example, he thinks highly of himself and his culture differs
greatly from hers, something that she criticizes in one of her other suitors because she
is afraid that they will have nothing to talk about).
Thus,
Portia seems to be rather ambiguous about Morocco. She has already stated her
preference for Bassanio and most likely never thought of Morocco seriously as her future
husband.
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