Portia, a racist maybe?

Portia seems to be satisfied when the Prince of Morocco’s choice of the caskets is wrong. There is something casually cruel about Portia’s unwillingness to spare even a moment’s pity for the Moor.

Portia's independence is often appealing, at other times she can seem terribly self-centered. She wants Bassanio as a husband and seems to have no regrets in seeing other suitors sentenced to a life of celibacy.

Despite being praised for acting like a gentleman and not raging, Portia was nevertheless relieved. This shows that Portia may be a racist. 

Bassanio picks his Casket

It is pretty obvious that Portia wants to marry Bassanio. Bassanio is a young and not very frugal friend of Antonio's. He is a spendthrift who has wasted whatever inheritance he might have had. 

Having heard of the fortune that will belong to the man who marries Portia, he wants to borrow money from Antonio so that he can present himself as a financially suitable suitor to her. He has met Portia before and has read amorous looks in her glances, quite probably presenting himself as having greater means than he actually has, as is his habit. With the money he receives from Antonio, he hopes to recoup his losses with Portia's estate.

An ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portia’s portrait. 

Prince of Aaragon & his choice of Casket

Prince of Aaragon, unwisely choses the sliver casket. In the silver casket, there was the smiling face of an idiot with a scroll that read:
 

"The fire seven times tried this:
Seven times tried that judgment is,
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss:
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone: you are sped." 

Prince of Morocco & the Casket of gold

The casket of gold (Chosen by Prince of Morocco) contained a skull with a scroll in it that read:

"All that glisters is not gold;  

Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold,
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been in-scroll.

Fare you well; your suit is cold." 

This gold casket's skull and scroll represents simply the cliched moral that one should never judge a book by its cover, for inside the gold it could very well be a gross skull that belongs in the tomb.

Three caskets

The three caskets were gold, silver and dull lead. Portia couldn't even choose her own husband, all because Portia is awash with suitors. Her father has left a will stipulating each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets – one each of gold, silver, and lead. If he chooses the right casket, he gets Portia. However, if he loses, he must go away and never trouble her or any other woman again with a proposal of marriage.

Nerissa & Portia's relationship

Nerissa is Portia's woman in waiting. She listens to Portia complain about her life and the unfairness of the casket contest and tells her to suck it up and be glad her father was wise enough to plan for his daughter's future. This, of course, tells us that Nerissa is a very practical girl.

Nerissa marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia’s trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk. They are very close despite the fact that Portia is higher in status.

Two suitors , Prince of Morocco & Prince of Arragon

Prince of Morocco - A Moorish prince who wants to marry Portia. He also tells her that he is often considered very handsome on account of his black skin and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. The Prince feels that lead is too threatening and not worth risking anything for. He also spurns the silver, which he feels is too base a metal to hold such a beautiful woman as Portia. The Prince therefore chooses gold, which proves to be incorrect.

  













Prince of Arragon - A cocky Spanish lord who also attempts to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. He, unlike the Prince of Morocco, chooses unwisely. He picks the silver casket. When he opened it, there was a picture of a fool’s head inside.