The Merchant of Venice: Act IV sc i - Portia
Summary: In this scene Portia is pleading to Shylock for the life of Antonio. Antonio is responsible for the debt that Bassanio owes Shylock. Bassanio is Portia's partner and needed money to be with Portia. When Bassanio borrowed the money the punishment for failure to pay back the money on time was 'a pound of flesh' which would cause certain death. Bassanio didn't pay the debt back in time and now Shylock wants his 'pound of flesh' from Antonio. Portia is trying to get Shylock to change his mind and see the virtue of being merciful.
Find and highlight these techniques in the speech:
metaphor
alliteration
repetition
Answer the following questions using quotes where applicable:
How does Portia describe mercy?
Describes it as being very mighty e.g. ''tis mightiest in mightiest.''
How important and powerful is it?
It is important as it relates to the monarch.
What can one achieve through mercy?
It states "and earthly power doth then show like God's"
Implying that through mercy incredible power can be achieved.
How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)
Religion is apart of this speech because the main idea behind the speech is mercy which is portrayed as a attribute which is given by God. To get mercy one must believe in God.
PORTIA
Find and highlight these techniques in the speech:
metaphor
alliteration
repetition
Answer the following questions using quotes where applicable:
How does Portia describe mercy?
Describes it as being very mighty e.g. ''tis mightiest in mightiest.''
How important and powerful is it?
It is important as it relates to the monarch.
What can one achieve through mercy?
It states "and earthly power doth then show like God's"
Implying that through mercy incredible power can be achieved.
How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)
Religion is apart of this speech because the main idea behind the speech is mercy which is portrayed as a attribute which is given by God. To get mercy one must believe in God.
PORTIA
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:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
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;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. 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. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
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