Portia says that
mercy is like the rain from heaven
. It is so gentle and nice. She also mentions that mercy cannot be forced. She says that “Mercy is twice blessed”.
Why according to Portia should we do deeds of mercy?
Shylock asks why he must show mercy, and, in one of the play's most famous speeches, Portia responds that “[
t]he quality of mercy is not strained
,” but is a blessing to both those who provide and those who receive it (IV. … Shylock joyfully extols Portia's wisdom, and gives her the bond for inspection.
Why does Portia later say we do pray for mercy What does this prayer teach us?
Justice won't save our souls. We pray for mercy, and this same prayer teaches us
to show mercy to others as well
. If you pursue it, this strict court of Venice will need to carry out the sentence against the merchant there.
What does Portia say about the quality of mercy later in the scene?
Porita says that
the quality of mercy is not strained
. By this she means that mercy is not overworked, for many people are cruel, not merciful. She compares mercy to a soft rain that falls from heavens; like rain, mercy falls on us whether we deserve it or not.
How does Portia point out that mercy is not an attribute of weakness?
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. … Therefore, he feels no mercy for anyone else.
How does Portia react to Antonio's letter?
Portia's response to Bassanio's admission is interesting. She first
asks how much money Bassanio owes Antonio
and is shocked that it is such a low amount (in her opinion); she then tells him just to pay the amount, even triple what is owed if that is what will solve the problem (she implies that she will pay the debt).
Is Shylock a villain or a victim?
Shylock is a
combination of both victim and villain
in The Merchant of Venice. He is a victim of discrimination and mistreated by Antonio and his daughter, Jessica. Shylock's greedy, vengeful nature is what makes him a villain, which helps drive the plot of the play.
What according to Portia are the qualities of mercy?
Mercy, according to Portia,
is heavenly in origin
and is a universal benefit which “blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” She calls it “mightier than the mightiest” and then devotes several lines to explaining why this is so. Kings are powerful because they inspire fear and respect.
What does Shakespeare say about mercy?
The quality of mercy is not strained.
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Why is mercy twice blessed?
Unlock
However, Portia says that the person who grants mercy is also blessed. This is because mercy is a characteristic of God, and the person who grants it is acting with the spirit and majesty of God. Thus mercy is twice blessed:
it blesses the one who gets the merciful treatment and the one who grants it
.
What does Portia say about justice and mercy?
Mercy, Portia tells those who would exact justice,
“droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath
.” When mercy is unreservedly dispensed, it becomes “the throned monarch better than his crown;” it is “an attribute of God himself.” We are most God-like when we are most merciful.
Why did Shylock call Portia a Daniel?
Because Portia seems to be ruling for Shylock, he calls her a
Daniel to praise her mercy and wisdom
. (It also reminds audiences that he's Jewish, since Daniel's story is found in the portion of the Bible that Jews and Christians share.)
What are the qualities of mercy answer?
The quality of
mercy is not strained
. A line from the play The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare. Strained means “constrained,” or “forced”; the speaker is telling Shylock that mercy must be freely given, and is inviting him to show mercy to the title character.
How is mercy an attribute to God himself?
To show that mercy is divine, she contrasts it against the throne, the crown and the scepter which are all symbols of a king's earthly power. She says that mercy is twice blessed. It blesses both the giver and the receiver. Mercy becomes an attribute of God
Himself if mercy seasons justice
.
How does Portia change throughout the play?
Changes in character
Portia may seem tied by patriarchal society at first, but she later shows her freedom of spirit and independence when she presents herself as Balthazar, the lawyer. She
gives Bassanio a ring as a token of her love
and insists that if he loses it or gives it away, their love will be over.
How does Portia try to impress upon Shylock with his speech on the quality of mercy?
She says that
when you act mercifully, you help yourself and you help the person that you are showing mercy to
. She tells Shylock that what he should strive for is not justice, but rather mercy. By saying these things, she is asking him not to try to get his “pound of flesh” from Antonio.
