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The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

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Portia's Views on Mercy and Justice in The Merchant of Venice

Summary:

In Act 4 of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer to argue for mercy over justice in Shylock's case against Antonio. Her "quality of mercy" speech suggests that mercy should be freely given, not forced, and benefits both the giver and receiver. Despite her eloquent appeal, Shylock insists on justice, highlighting his desire for revenge and reflecting the play's exploration of mercy, justice, and the biases within Venetian society. Ultimately, Portia uses legal technicalities to save Antonio, underscoring the irony of her speech as no mercy is extended to Shylock.

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Explain Portia's speech on mercy in act 4 of The Merchant of Venice.

In her famous "the quality of mercy is not strained" speech in act 4, scene 1 of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Portia, disguised as a young Doctor of Laws, appeals to Shylock's humanity to forego his legal right to a pound of Antonio's flesh and instead accept a monetary settlement in payment of Antonio's debt to him.

Portia was wasting her breath, of course, and she very likely knew she was, because Shylock is wholly intransigent throughout the trial—he insists on the letter of the law and the "pound of flesh" he's legally owed—and his hatred of Antonio, and indeed of all Christians, overwhelms any mercy he might have felt or shown to Antonio were he not so adamant about receiving the justice he so stridently demands.

As intelligent and resourceful as Portia is throughout the play, it's unlikely that she didn't have the technicality of the law which she later uses against Shylock already in mind when she made her famous speech, but she nevertheless must make the effort to persuade Shylock to amend his bond by appealing to his basic humanity.

PORTIA. Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

PORTIA. The quality of mercy is not strained.
(act 4, scene 1, lines 185–187)

Portia's argument for Shylock to extend mercy to Antonio fails, as she knew it would, and as Shylock holds his knife ready to cut his pound of flesh from Antonio's body, Portia turns the legal tables on him.

PORTIA. Tarry a little;—there is something else.
(act 4, scene 1, line 314)

By law, Shylock is entitled to his pound of Antonio's flesh, but, by law, he's not entitled to even one drop of Antonio's blood. Not only that but, as it turn out, by threatening to take his "pound of flesh" from Antonio, by law Shylock is guilty of attempted murder.

The irony of Portia's "the quality of mercy is not strained" speech is that not one Christian in the court room, not the Duke, Portia, Antonio, or Gratiano, extends any mercy whatsoever to Shylock. To compound their display of inhumanity towards Shylock, Antonio, to whom Portia entreated Shylock to extend mercy and who did not expect to leave the courtroom alive, demands that in addition to the penalties that the Duke levies against Shylock, that Shylock become one of them, a Christian. Mercy "droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven" (line 188) on everyone else but not on Shylock.

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What is the purpose of Portia's disguise and "mercy" speech in Act 4 of The Merchant of Venice?

Dressing up as a man: In Act 3, after Portia learns of Antonio's situation and Bassanio leaves for Venice to try to help Antonio, Portia tells her servant Nerissa that she is going to dress up as a man and use men's foolishness against them.  Her decision to disguise herself is practical and symbolic.  Realistically, if Portia wants to be of any help in the Venetian court, she cannot appear as a woman, especially not as a lawyer (referred to as a "doctor of letters" in the play) because women were not allowed to practice law. Symbolically, Portia dresses up as a man because she wants to prove that women are wiser than men and demonstrate how simple it is for women to manipulate men.  Portia's disguise is successful in achieving both her goals.

Quality of mercy speech: Portia's speech to Shylock is ironic, and it is difficult to know if Portia's only reason for giving the speech is to trap Shylock in his own choices or if she delivers the speech in part to offer Shylock one last opportunity to "save" himself.  Either way, Portia uses her description of mercy's qualities to warn Shylock that even though he might be focused on getting justice that at some point in his life, he--like all humans-- will pray for mercy.  She reasons that

". . . we all do pray for mercy, / And that same prayer doth teach us all to render / The deeds of mercy" (4.1.206-208).

According to Portia, if Shylock does not show mercy to others, he will not receive it himself.  And, of course, Portia is right.  At the end of the courtroom scene, Shylock begs for mercy for himself--mercy that he was unwilling to show toward Antonio.

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What does Portia request of Shylock and her views on mercy in Act 4, Scene 1?

1.  Portia asks Shylock to show mercy upon Antonio and spare his life.  She acknowledges that Shylock does have a right to "his pound of flesh," but that a merciful person would either forgive the debt or settle for something "less invasive."

2.  In Portia's "Quality of Mercy" speech, she argues that mercy should apply infinitely to all situations.  She cites examples of a merciful God and attempts to make an ethical appeal to Shylock's religious beliefs.  While Portia's speech would be motivating to most audiences, she neglects to consider that Shylock does not believe in the merciful God of the New Testament.  He trusts in the vengeful, omnipotent God of the Old Testament.  Likewise, throughout the play, Shylock references Biblical characters who did not hesitate to get their dues (i.e., Jacob).

Portia also misunderstands the motivation behind Shylock's strange sentence.  She does not consider the fact that Shylock desires revenge upon Antonio because never once did Antonio show mercy toward Shylock.

Overall, Portia's poetic speech about mercy's qualities is more in keeping with the flowery language of Belmont but is ineffective in Venice's business environment.

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What does Portia mean by "the quality of mercy is not strained" in The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1?

When Portia tells Shylock that "the quality of mercy is not strained," she implies that mercy should flow from the heart and should not be compelled or forced from someone.

In Act IV, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, Portia, disguised as a young, wise, and learned doctor of law, is supposedly sent to advise the Duke about the legality of Shylock's demand for payment on the lien for his loan to Antonio, a Venetian businessman.  

Shylock has made a loan to Antonio. He has not made the loan out of kindness, nor even out of a desire for profit. Instead, he has lent Antonio money knowing full well that the merchant will fail to meet the deadline for repayment. Should Antonio fail to repay the loan, Shylock can demand the unusual penalty to which Antonio has agreed; more specifically, Antonio must give Shylock a pound of flesh. Shylock has made this arrangement because he desires to avenge himself against the Christian merchant who has made a practice of loaning money without charging interest. Also, Antonio has assisted Shylock's customers by lending the amount they need at the last minute to pay off Shylock and avoid their loan penalty. Consequently, Shylock wishes to be rid of Antonio because the merchant has frequently prevented Shylock from making a profit. He also feels that his revenge is justified because of the cruelty he has suffered at the hands of the Venetians. 

When Portia arrives in disguise, she appeals to Shylock's sense of decency hoping that he will be merciful. Unfortunately, however, her speech about mercy as being godlike does not move Shylock. As the antagonist of the play, he adamantly demands payment under the terms agreed upon by Antonio. 

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In The Merchant of Venice, what does Portia say about justice and mercy in her "Quality of Mercy" speech?

In Portia’s famous monologue, she attempts to convince Shylock to favor mercy over justice. He insists that the law technically supports his bond with Antonio, even though it requires a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Shylock asks “On what compulsion must” he be merciful. Portia replies that “The quality of mercy is not strain'd.” It is not given under “compulsion” but comes as naturally as “gentle rain from heaven.” She associates mercy with both nature and deity.

Portia notes how impressive it is when those who wield power demonstrate compassion. They could enact justice but instead decide to forgive. It is somewhat reminiscent of Prospero’s comments in The Tempest when he realizes that “the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance.” According to Portia, the king’s “sceptre shows the force of temporal power,” whereas grace is a divine quality:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself…

The speech argues against a limited sense of fairness because “in the course of justice, none of us / Should see salvation.” No one is free from sin. Therefore, Portia argues that, in the grand scheme of things, mercy is superior to justice.

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What does Portia's "The quality of mercy is not strained" speech reveal about her character?

There is one other irony near the end of the speech.  

Portia points out:

... Therefore, Jew,/Though justice be thy plea, consider this:/That in the course of justice none of us/Should see salvation.  We do pray for mercy,/And that same prayer doth teach us all to render/The deeds of mercy.

"In the course of justice none of us should see salvation" is an excellent summary of basic Christian doctrine, and there is some truth in the caricature that Christianity emphasizes mercy (or "grace") while Old Testament Judaism emphasizes justice (or "law").  

However, the concept of mercy is not foreign to the Jewish Scriptures.  To take just one of many examples, here is an excerpt from Psalm 130:

O Lord, hear my voice./Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy./If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?/But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

With Scriptures like this, Shylock could certainly be a man of mercy and still be a consistent Jew.  However, he is unaware of his own need for mercy.  He thinks of himself as someone who has never demanded more than his due, and who is now asking for simple justice.  He is not aware of ever having had mercy extended to him. Therefore, he feels no mercy for anyone else.  

Portia is aware, though Shylock is not, that in just a few moments Shylock is going to be pleading for mercy. After she uses the technicalities of Shylock's agreement (or "bond") to show that he cannot legally take a pound of flesh from Antonio, she will show that Shylock's obvious attempt to murder Antonio puts him in the position of being fined all his goods.  She will then ask Antonio to show mercy to Shylock. 

When Portia speaks to Shylock of the beauties of mercy, she is giving him a chance to embrace it for its own sake, without any obvious mercenary motives.  But, like most of us, Shylock cannot see the beauty of mercy until he is in a position where receiving justice would ruin him.  By pointing out that "we all need mercy," Portia was trying to get Shylock to see that in having mercy on another person, we are setting a precedent for someone to have mercy on us.  In pardoning another, we are pardoning ourselves.  Or as a very famous Jew once said, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven.   For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  (Luke 6:37 - 38)

Though it is not obvious from the rest of the play, this speech indicates that Portia herself must be aware of her own shortcomings and her own need for mercy.

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What does Portia's "The quality of mercy is not strained" speech reveal about her character?

It's one of those Shakespeare speeches, I think, like "To be or not to be", where everyone knows the first line or two lines, and then very little about what comes next. Portia is talking about mercy, which, she argues

...blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown

Being merciful, she argues, blesses the person being merciful, and the person who receives the mercy. It is, therefore at its strongest, shown by people who are the most powerful. It becomes a monarch (i.e. is more kingly) better than his crown does.

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,

The king's sceptre shows the force of his power on earth ("temporal power"), and is part of his awe and his majesty, which is why people dread and are scared of kings. However, mercy is above the influence and power of the sceptre ("sceptred sway")...

It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

Mercy is an attribute of God himself, the king of kings. And earthly power becomes most godly when it is merciful: when decisions of justice are "seasoned" (made more palatable) with mercy.

Hope it helps!

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What does Portia's "The quality of mercy is not strained" speech reveal about her character?

Portia's entire wonderful speech in Act IV goes as follows:

"The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." It shows several things about Portia's character. Mercy, however, is not primary among them. A blend of intelligence and boldness come well before mercy. She's a woman arguing law and ethics in a male-dominated society. After that, the next quality is found in the metaphor: it recognizes that mercy, like rain, falls unevenly, and (to extend the metaphor) sometimes fails to soak in. This means, she knows it will not be "absorbed" by Shylock as it should.


As far as themes, this relates to both the theme of mercy and the tension between appearance and reality.

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How does Portia show mercy in three ways in The Merchant of Venice?

  1. In Act III, Scene 2, Bassanio has come to see if he can win Portia's hand. To do so, he must choose one of three caskets. If the one he opens turns out to have Portia's picture inside, he and Portia can wed. If not, the suitor has to leave immediately, tell no one which casket he chose, and never marry. Portia really likes Bassanio. When he first arrives, Portia asks him to wait "a day or two," or even "some month or two," before he chooses. She wants to enjoy his company; if he chooses wrong, she will lose him. Bassanio responds, "Let me choose,/For as I am, I live upon the rack." Portia, hearing that he is in such agony of suspense, quickly explains the rules to him and lets him choose a casket.
  2. In Act IV, Scene 1, Portia (disguised as a young male lawyer) urges Shylock to show mercy to Antonio. After many opportunities to show mercy, Shylock still refuses, so she turns the law around on him and shows him that, by law, he cannot legally collect his pound of flesh and his life is forfeit for trying to kill a Venetian citizen. She then urges the Duke and Antonio to show mercy to Shylock. They end by letting him keep his life and half his wealth, but they do require him to convert to Christianity. 
  3. In Act V, Scene 1, Portia shows cruel playfulness, and ultimately mercy, toward her husband Bassanio. While disguised as the lawyer Balthasar, Portia managed to get Bassanio to give her his wedding ring. He does this as a token of gratitude for Balthasar's saving Antonio's life. Bassanio arrives home to find his wife, Portia (who has only just arrived home and taken off her disguise), asking him what happened to the ring. When he tries to explain, she pretends to be very offended and claims that she will sleep with this young lawyer the next time she sees him. After Bassanio promises he will never do such a thing again, Portia gives him a "new" ring, which he immediately recognizes as the old one they were just fighting over. She then explains the joke to her relieved husband.
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Can you summarize Portia's speech in The Merchant of Venice?

Portia's eloquent speech in Merchant of Venice is often regarded as one of Shakespeare's finest and most poetic monologues (alongside, of course, with Hamlet, Richard III, and Cleopatra). In it, Portia, disguised as a young male lawyer named Balthazaar, pleads with Shylock, a wealthy moneylender and the play's main antagonist, to have mercy upon Antonio.

As usual with Shakespearean monologues, the language is rich, poetic, and often complex. Taking the speech in several pieces will help analyze the entire piece.

When Shylock ponders why he must give mercy, Portia begins the monologue:

The quality of mercy is not strained

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes

Here, Portia suggests mercy to not be necessary, for it is only the kindhearted that are able to give it. She suggests that it benefits those who give mercy and those who receive it. In other words, to give mercy is to be, in a sense, Saintlike. (Pay attention to the second line, "...the gentle rain from heaven". She then continues, telling Shylock that mercy benefits kings, queens, and monarchs even more than their own crown. Merciful kings are respected and powerful kings, she suggests, and she goes on to connect mercy to religion once again:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself

God is merciful, and if God is the most powerful being of all, even tyrants should aim to share characteristics with Him. She tells Shylock that mercy is divine, powerful, and wholly respectable. The speech continues:

Though justice be they plea, consider this

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

Here, she is suggesting that if any human asks for proper justice, especially to God, there is nothing but damnation in their future, for all humans are sinners and inherently immoral. Consequently, Portia suggests, one can only ask for mercy when it becomes time for judgment.

As a whole, Portia's speech is a plea with Shylock to have mercy upon Antonio, for mercy is a divine and God-like attribute. Mercy gives power and morality to those who offer it, and it obviously benefits those who receive it.

There is a sense of irony, however, when only a few lines later Portia agrees with a crowd of angry spectators who mercilessly demand that Shylock forfeit half his wealth and convert to another religion, thus losing his own identity.

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