The Importance of Portia's Speech
In Act 4, Scene 1 (pp. 78-79) Portia gives a speech about the mercy vs. justice ("The quality of mercy is not strained..."). Explain what Portia is saying about justice and mercy, and why it is important in the play.
In this scene, Portia is talking to Shylock in court dressed as a man, and she starts by saying, “ The quality of mercy is not strained” (Shakespeare, 78-79). In the remainder of this speech, she is saying how mercy is temporal power, and, “An attribute to God himself” (Shakespeare, 79). She is telling Shylock that although he wants justice, he needs to think about the fact that he cannot look for redemption in this. “Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us should see salvation” (Shakespeare, 79).
This play is about a Christian and a Jew. In that time period, the Christian would have the upper hand. In this case however, they make a deal that the Christian could not abide to. This gave the Jew the upper hand and he decided to take the issue to court, (because he wanted to kill the Christian). The Jew’s mindset was that this Christian treated him badly because he was abusing his power, and now that he has the power, he wants to take advantage of it and kill the Christian.
Portia is trying to tell Shylock that she understands he wants justice, but it will not give him the redemption he is looking for. He will not get his money or his daughter back, and he will have Antonio’s blood on his hands.
Are you sure that Shylock will not feel at least a little bit better by Antonio's death. If someone who treated me badly died I know I would feel a little bit relived by that fact that there would be nothing they could do to me anymore. Also if Shylock did kill Antonio legally, Antonio's blood would not only be on Shylock's hand but the courts and Bassanio's hand.
ReplyDeleteWelllllllllll technically Antonio's blood would be on Shylock's hands because...he killed him, get it because if Shylock were to kill him blood would literally be on his hands. :D
DeleteThat's true but I made the comment about that because personally I think that who ever is there during a murder and does nothing to stop it also has some figurative blood on their hand. The people in the court might have gotten a splashed by the blood that would spurt out from a wound. ;D
DeleteYou guys crack me up.
DeleteIn my essay I reflected on wealth and how it revealed certain personality traits from characters one of which being greed (leading to revenge). I wonder if Shylock was more lenient to kill Antonio not based off of the things happening around him (Such as Jessica and the loss of a large sum of money) but because of the things he described Antonio doing in the past. He might just feel mad specifically at Antonio or it could be that he is channeling his inner anger (like a ninja) of everything happening around him and trying to take it out on Antonio.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I agree. I think Portia was arguing that he should give mercy to Antonio, but she was being quite hypocritical when she said that, because she wouldn't give the same mercy to Shylock. T
ReplyDeleteI saw her speech as more of her trying to tell Shylock that god gives mercy to us so we should give mercy to others, but I also see what your talking about when you say she was trying to convince Shylock to give Antonio mercy because justice will not make him much happier because he will have the blood of Antonio on his hands.
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of what is religiously correct in this scenario interesting because, Shylock and Antonio come from different religious perspectives.
DeleteI believe that when Portia was talking to Shylock about the qualities of mercy, she was trying to explain that his actions could be considered justice, but mercy was the better alternative becauseif he followed through, his actions wouldn't be forgiven by anyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said that Portia was trying to say to Shylock. Do you think that the message or delivery of this speech would change if Portia was actually a boy instead of a girl dressed as a boy?
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting point, because I think that part of the comedic effect of the court scene was meant to be that not only is Shylock defeated, but he is outfoxed by a WOMAN (who would be seen as clearly intellectually inferior to the typical man).
DeleteI do sort of wonder what Carly is wondering. How would have the play changed and the events unfolded differently if Portia was unashamedly woman instead of dressed as a man? Well, if she revealed herself as Portia right then and there, then the initial shock at the end of the play of the other characters' realization would be lost. But would her words really have the same effect on Shylock, or would everybody disregard her as a woman? I want to see what you guys think. Good post Carly, and great job Sydney!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charlie's comment above that Portia was being a little hypocritical with her statement on Justice and mercy. She tried to convince Shylock to give mercy, but would when he didn't she refrained from doing so and took practically everything Shylock had. Sorry for being a little late with this comment.
ReplyDeleteI think you are getting at an important point when you say that this play is about a Christian and a Jew. In that case, why would justice vs. mercy be so important in the rest of the play? (Please carefully read the prompt - it asks you to answer this question).
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