Gul Mohar Edition 9 Orient Blackswan
Gul Mohar English Chapter - 12 The Three Caskets
Writer of the story - William Shakespeare
Question and Answers
Question 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?
Answer: The Prince of Morocco is indeed a little apologetic about his skin colour and ventures to persuade Portia to not dislike him because of it, and although he wouldn’t chance his skin colour because it frightens even the valiant, he would change it if he could to win over Portia. Portia, on her part, assures him that she was not biased against him due to his colour and that if her father had not restricted her choice in the matter, he would have as fair a chance as a fair-skinned suitor. The words ‘Mislike me not for my complexion’ and ‘The lott’ry of my destiny bars me the right of voluntary choosing’ show this.
Question 2: Is the Prince of Morocco nevertheless, proud of his brave deeds and well-mannered in his speech?
Answer: Yes, the Prince of Morocco is courteous of his speech and respectfully dismisses himself when he makes the wrong choice, so he is well-mannered. That he is also proud of brave deeds is evident in the words in which he describes the achievements of his scimitar, which has slain ‘the Sophy and a Persian prince won three fields of Sultan Solyman’, and claims to be capable of doing many brave things to win her over.
Question 3: Look at the Prince of 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)
Answer: The Prince of Morocco is certainly unwise and hasty in dismissing the lead casket due to the low value of lead and possibly its unattractive colour, calling it too worthless for a golden mind to stoop to. He is certainly judging by colour now.
Question 4: What is Arragon’s response to the inscription on the golden casket? Do you think he is something of a snob?
Answer: Yes, Arragon does show condescension towards the golden casket, declaring that it is the choice of the masses to which he doesn’t belong.
Question 5: How does 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?
Answer: The Prince of Arragon lets Portia know that he is aware of the rules by mentioning the three rules. The three rules are:
i. to never reveal to anyone what choice the suitor made and if he made the wrong choice.
ii. to leave Portia’s premises and Belmont honourably and immediately.
iii. never even attempt to marry another woman.
Portia replies that every suitor who comes to try his hand at winning her has to abide by these rules.
Question 6: Think of Bassanio’s long speech rejecting the golden casket. Is his strong disapproval of pretence and falsehood in society sincere and apt for the situation? Or is it some what dramatic and overdone, as though for an audience? See how he then goes on to choose the lead casket with large-hearted expression like ‘thou meagre lead’ and ‘thy plainness moves me more than eloquence’.
Answer: Bassanio’s reaction to the golden casket is certainly dramatic but not overdone because it is just an explanation of why he thinks it’s not the right casket. His large-hearted expressions, although contradictory and also perhaps not entirely honest are at least an indicator of his good intentions and superior wisdom as compared to that of his early suitors.
Question 7: Do you think Portia was equally impartial with all the suitors or did she, in her mind, favour one of them? What supports your view?
Answer: Portia wasn’t entirely impartial with all the three suitors and wanted Bassanio to make the right choice. This is evident from how she urged Bassanio to take his time to think about the caskets and her expressions of anxiety over their separation should he make the wrong choice.
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