Portia and Fairness

Something unfair that's happening to Portia and something unfair about Portia In this blog post, I'll be talking about something unfair that is happening to Portia and something unfair about Portia. So the unfair thing that is happening to Portia in this play by Shakespeare, is that when her father had passed away, part of his will was for Portia to marry. But the thing is though, Portia isn't allowed to choose who she marries, which is also part of her fathers' will. So the way they'd choose Portia's husband, is by having all of the people that want to marry her (suitors) and make them choose one out of three caskets. One casket would be filled with gold, the other silver, and the last one lead. If one of her suitors choose the casket which has a portrait of Portia in it, then they would marry her. Even if Portia doesn't like the person who chose the correct casket. But the unfair thing about Portia though, is that she's a bit racist. One of her suitors, The Prince of Morocco has dark skin or a dark complexion. "If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good 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 men than wive me." (I,3. 127-131) This means that even though the Prince of Morocco could have a heart of a saint but has a bad complexion (she's referring to his dark toned skin), then she would have rather have him shrive her than marry her. So this means that shouldn't want to marry a person with a dark complexion, and prefers to marry guys with a lighter-skin tone, which is definitely a bit racist.

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