What does the Moroccan prince mean in Act 2, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice?

Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,

To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And let us make incision for your love, to prove ...my gentle queen.

In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Portia has been condemned to an awful ordeal by her father's will. She will be forced to marry the "winner" of a test her father devised for his daughter's suitors. There are three boxes ("caskets"), one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. In order for a suitor to "win" her in this marriage lottery, they must choose the box which contains Portia's picture (portrait). Any suitor who attempts to win her hand in marriage must agree never to marry if he chooses the wrong box.

Portia is not only beautiful but she is bright, as well, and this process is galling to her; she is especially upset because she loves Bassanio but cannot give him any hints about which box to choose. 

One of the suitors who comes to try his luck at this game of chance is a Moroccan prince; he is obviously dark-skinned, unlike the Venetians Portia is used to seeing, so in the speech you reference he addresses the color of his skin. First, he asks Portia not to dislike him simply because of his dark skin; his color simply means he lives near the sun.

Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.

Then he issues a kind of challenge, telling her to compare him to any light-skinned man ("the fairest creature northward born"). They shall each make an incision in their arms to see "whose blood is reddest," and of course he is confident it will be him. 

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.

The Moroccan prince's final boast in this speech is that many valiant men have shown fear when they looked upon him, and the "best-regarded virgins" of his country have loved his dark face. 

I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

The only reason he would even consider changing the color of his skin is to win Portia's love. 

Of course the speech, delivered by a prince, is ineffectual in winning Portia because she loves another; not only that, but he does not choose the correct box, of course.

What is a character sketch of the Prince of Morocco in The Merchant Of Venice?

The Prince of Morocco is a proud, valiant man. However, because he is foreign and has very dark skin, he displays some anxiety about Portia's acceptance of him.

The Prince's focus upon his dark skin and Portia's impression of his physical appearance indicates that he values the superficial. As proof that he is a true prince, he offers to cut his flesh and show her that his blood is redder than any man who is fairer than he. He says he would change nothing about himself but to change her opinion of him:

              ...I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. (2.1.11-12)

He also believes that he deserves Portia:

I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,

In graces, and in qualities of breeding.

But more than these, in love I do deserve. (2.7.34-36)

Then, too, he may possess a secret fear that Portia does not desire him. Also, this focus upon the superficial extends itself to his choice of the caskets as he misjudges which one is the correct choice because of the appearance the caskets. For, he cannot believe that Portia's father would put her portrait in anything but the gold casket since her beauty is deserving of nothing but the best.

When he does not make the correct choice, he says that he leaves in despair, but he will not linger.

Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!

Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart

To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part. (2.7.81-83)

Does Portia favor the Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice? Explain.

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. 

Does Portia favor the Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice? Explain.

It is hard to say what her real feelings are toward the prince.  One answer to this can be based on what she says in Act II, Scene 1, but another answer is possible if you base it on Act II, Scene 7.

In Scene 1, the prince asks Portia not to judge him based on his skin color.  She says that she does not judge him and that she likes him well enough.

At the very end of Scene 7, though, she is glad that he has picked the wrong casket.  She says she hopes everyone else of his color does the same.

I think I'd go with this second attitude.  You can argue that she's just being polite in Scene 1.  In Scene 7 she's talking to herself and not to him so she's more likely to be showing her true feelings.

What is the Prince of Morocco's personality in The Merchant of Venice, and Portia's opinion of him?

Act 2, Scene 1 of the play opens with the Prince arriving in Belmont.  While the Prince is confident in his "valiant" abilities and personality, he is concerned that Portia will not want him as a husband because of his race.  His first words in the play are,

" 'Mislike me not for my complexion,/ The shadowed livery of the burnished sun . . .' " (2.1.1-2).

Portia informs the Prince that she is not at liberty to choose any of her suitors.  According to her father's wishes, she must marry whoever first chooses the correct box.  She does tell him,

" 'Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair/ As any comer I have looked on yet' " (2.1.20-21).

She wants to assure him that he should not take it personally if he does not get to marry her.  Because of her father's eccentric casket test, all suitors have an equal opportunity to choose the right box and win Portia's hand in marriage.

After Scene 1, Shakespeare interrupts Morocco's test with the story of Jessica betraying her father and eloping with the man of her choice.  The bard does so to contrast Portia's obedience to her late father with Jessica's rebellion against her living father.  When Act 2, Scene7 opens, the Prince is let into the casket room to make his choice.  His deliberation over the caskets and his ultimate choice demonstrate that he is respectful of Portia's worth, but his choicealso illustrates his tendency to judge based on the exterior (perhaps this is why he is so worried about others judging him based on his appearance), for he chooses the gold casket for exactly the reasons Portia's father lists in the riddle.  When he discovers that he will return to Morocco emptyhanded, he bemoans his choice, and Portia says after he leaves,

" 'A gentle riddance! Draw the curtains, go./ Let all of his complexion choose me so' " (2.7.86-87).

Portia's use of the word "gentle" shows that she would not havedetested being married to the Prince (even though she is not in love with him) and that she is sympathetic toward him.  Her last words are more puzzling--her use of "complexion" could refer to his demeanor, not his appearance, and the idea that if he bases all decisions on the exterior that she would rather not be married to him or anyone else who places such importance on superficial elements. However, if one considers Shakespeare's critique of racism toward Jews in this play and towards Moors in Othello, he could be stressing the fact that white Europeans--no matter how wise or sophisticated--still practiced exclusion of other races/cultures.

How is the Prince of Morocco depicted in The Merchant of Venice?

The first thing we learn about the prince of Morocco on his arrival is that he is quite aware of his appearance and asks Portia not to dislike him because of his dark complexion:

Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.
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.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

He explains that his color is the result of a hot climate where the sun has tanned him. He is, however, proud of his heritage, for he asks Portia to bring around the most handsome men to test who has the reddest blood. He obviously believes his would be the best, since otherwise he would not have made such a claim. He proudly states his skin has driven fear into the bravest men. Furthermore, the most valued and unblemished women of his region also loved his complexion. He states that he would not change his color except to have Portia think only of him.

The prince obviously carries his sword with him, for he tells Portia:

...By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,...

The scimitar is a curved sword common in the Middle East at the time and the prince is clearly proud of his prowess as a swordsman since he brags about his victories on the battlefield. Added to that, he is also quite smug about the fact that he can outstare and outbrave the most daring opponents and would even snatch a she-bear's suckling cubs from her grasp.

The prince comes across as vain. He so easily boasts about his abilities that one can easily believe he is arrogant and pompous. A close reading indicates that he uses these glorious comparisons and images to assure Portia that he would undertake any trial or tribulation to win her affection. He is clearly desperate to impress her. He is fearful, though, that since he cannot predict the future and is not entirely in control of his own destiny, one lower in stature than he might win her hand.

The prince is clearly not afraid to take risks, since he asks Portia to allow him to take his chance immediately. She, however, informs him that he must first make a vow in the temple. He can choose a casket after they have had dinner. His vanity finds further support in the fact that he chooses the gold casket because he believes he has the right to what all men desire, which is what the inscription on the casket indicates. Silver has too low a value and lead is too gross to even contemplate.

The prince shows great honor in his response to choosing the incorrect chest:

...your suit is cold.
Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.

On realizing that his attempt was a flop, he takes his leave like a gentleman and wishes Portia farewell, stating he is too aggrieved to stay around now that he and Portia have both lost. 

What is the Prince of Morocco's personality in The Merchant of Venice?

I think the Prince of Morocco is the kind of character which any particular production would have some latitude in reinterpreting while still being honest with the text. Is he a brave and noble warrior? A braggart? Can he both at once? Certain elements of his characterization can lend themselves towards multiple attitudes of interpretation, depending on the specificities of any given production.

Before anything else, I'd note that there is a self-awareness, as to the disadvantages he faces, coming from a foreign culture. As we see in act 2, scene 1, the Prince requests that Portia "mislike me not for the color of my complexion." He is well aware that the subject of his race has disadvantaged him in his pursuit of Portia. In addition, it's also worth noting that, as Prince of Morocco, he would also have been almost certainly Muslim. This adds a religious dynamic that is implicit within the text (and this is an element worth being aware of, given that religious tensions is such a major theme across Merchant of Venice).

In addition to his status as an outsider, Morocco does present himself as a valiant warrior, citing his past exploits as proof of his quality. Indeed, in act 2, scene 1, he compares his wooing of Portia as a kind of heroic trial, as another battle to be won.

Morocco does seem to be highly educated and poetic. He cites classical mythology quite frequently. For example, we see lines like:

Bring me the fairest creature northward born, / Where Phoebus' fire scarce throws the icicles, / And let us make incision for your love / To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. (act 2, scene 1).

Later in that same scene, he compares himself to Hercules.

At the same time, Morocco displays a great deal of pride, and even a certain degree of entitlement, as we see in his general attitude and in some of his comments during the trial of the boxes:

Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.' / Must give—for what? for lead? hazard for lead? / The casket threatens. Men that hazard all / Do it in hope of fair advantages: / A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; / I'll then nor give, nor hazard, aught for lead." (act 2, scene 7)

Later, in that same dramatic scene, he will consider the Silver Box, which promises to give the chooser what he deserves. Here, Morocco states, "As much as I deserve?—Why, that's the lady: / I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, / In graces and in qualities of breeding: / But more than these, in love I do deserve." (act 2, scene 7)

I would say, in general, Morocco is very much in line with what might imagine from a typical Early Modern Prince. He's brave and highly educated, very self assured, with a great deal of pride as to his own upbringing and capabilities.

What is the Prince of Morocco's personality in The Merchant of Venice?

The Prince is, firstly, straightforward and direct. He is also quite honest about what he knows others may think of him. This is apparent from the first few lines of his address to Portia, when he tells her:

Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.

He shows an awareness of the prejudice against those who are darker-skinned and asks Portia not to judge him on his skin-colour alone, but that she should bring forth the handsomest of her suitors and that they should draw blood to see whose is the reddest:

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.

The Prince is also clearly somewhat vain, for he declares that the hue of his blood has frightened even the bravest and that the most beautiful virgins of his country also loved his blood. He is obviously quite impressed by his prowess and he proudly proclaims that he would never change his skin tone, except 'to steal' Portia's thoughts.

The Prince has a generally positive attitude and brags somewhat about his ability as a swordsman and his exaggerated expressions about wolves and bears indicate that he is sure of himself. He is somewhat overwhelmed by his own abilities and wishes to take his chance with the caskets immediately. Portia actually stays his enthusiasm and asks him to first have dinner and try his hand after that.

Further evidence of the Prince's conceit is shown when he ventures to choose a casket. When he reads the inscription on the lead one he states:

A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.

The fact that he believes his mind 'golden' indicates that he sees himself as highly intelligent and that lead is beneath him and he therefore rejects it outright. He continues in the same vein when he is confronted by the silver casket which states that the one who chooses it will get as much as he deserves. The Prince believes he deserves Portia for they are equal in wealth and status. He also deserves to be paid in kind for his love. He is, however, fearful of selecting this casket because he later reasons that it is ten times less the value of gold.

He eventually chooses the gold casket since he believes Portia is worth her value in the metal and he, obviously, deserves only the best. Finally, the Prince proves that he is a true gentleman for he states:

Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.

His departure is not as abrupt as that of the other suitors who essentially leave without saying a word.

What does the Prince of Morocco symbolize in The Merchant of Venice?

In The Merchant of Venice the Prince of Morocco is a traditional prince who lists his litany of accomplishments as part of his identity. In a person who lacks wisdom and humility, this trait leads to arrogance and an inflated self-opinion. As the Prince of Morocco says while he is deciding between the three caskets to choose from, he feels the need to assert his worth or be viewed as inadequate and undeserving. He also says that he finds it unthinkable that the picture of such a beauty as Portia should be laid in so vile a casket as one made of lead. The symbolism for the Prince of Morocco is thus revealed in the statement in the gold casket, which is his eventual choice: "All that glitters is not gold." This symbolizes the error of placing appearance ahead of substance and arrogance ahead of humility and right self-opinion.

Based on the following passage from The Merchant of Venice, how would you assess Morocco's appearance and character?

"Mislike me not for my complexion, / The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, / To whom I am a neighbor and near bred. /
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. / 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. I would not change this hue /
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen."

Morocco, from both his name and his self-description, appears to have darker skin. He appears to consider his appearance a deficit in wooing Portia that he needs to address, despite the fact that the choice of a casket, not Portia's opinion, is what will determine who becomes her husband.

Morocco seeks to assert his humanity by saying that an incision would show his blood is as red as the lightest-skinned person from the far north. He also states that his appearance intimidates other men, implying that it is a sign of masculinity and that beautiful young women in his own country find him handsome. He ends by saying that he is proud of his skin color and would not change it, except to sway Portia's heart in his favor.

We learn from this that Morocco is well aware of European racism and hopes to address this elephant in the room rather than pretend it does not exist. He reveals that he is a smooth-talking, diplomatic person who tries to disarm opponents by naming problems before they do. While he has his deeper problems as a candidate for Portia's hand, we can appreciate that he wants to win her heart even though he doesn't need to. It seems important to him that he not only get Portia through the terms of her will but that she sees him as a man of value.