Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Essay

Mercy is compassionate treatment, while evaluator is the administration of law. Justice may non necessary include forgiveness.Mercy is natural. Portia says that the quality of mercy is not strained, it is not a coerce effort but some amour that one already possesses. Mercy targetnot be forced by anyone it is something that one must come up within himself. Like how gentle rain cannot be created artificially, it is sincere.Mercy also benefits the merciful. Portia says that man power doth then show likest Gods when mercy seasons justice, implying that man can hardly become like God when he is merciful.Mercy is something that is powerful. Portia says, scepters shows the force of temporal powerbut mercy is above this sceptered sway, symbolizing that mercy is more powerful than mere symbols of earthly power, i.e. the confidential information and the scepter.Mercy is forgiving. Portia points out that God is merciful, and forgives us for our sins, and in the course of justice none o f us should date salvation. Only with the mercy of God would they be delivered.Mercy is reciprocal, and twice blest, bringing great tidings to both him that gives and him that takes.Portia says that mercy is divine, as it droppethfrom enlightenment and an attribute to God himself. Mercy is a supernal quality, a sacred virtue and he who has this characteristic becomes likest God. It is like gentle rain from heaven.Mercy is fair treatment to others. For example, the Duke asks Shylock to forgive a moiety of the principal, sympathising with Antonio as he has incapacitated money in his wrecked investments.Justice is strict and condemning, as the place where justice is perform isdescribed as the strict court of Venice. Portia asks Shylock to mitigatethy plea, exemplifying how justice is then harsh.Justice is earth-bound, dispensed and followed by Man. No power in Venice can alter justice, meaning that justice can be changed by heavens mercy.Justice is something that follows laws stric tly, and is blind. Even as Shylock says, What brain shall I fear, doing no wrong, he emphasizes how justice is strictly based on laws, as he has nobody to fear despite plotting against Antonios life as the law says he is entitled to.Justice is one-sided, and that it understandably defines a loser and winner. Shylock, who thinks that justice and mercy cannot be reconciled, decides the fate of Antonio, saying, it is his humour, as he has lost three thousand ducats in the deal.Justice is inflexible. As Portia states, there is no power in Venice that can alter a decree established, she is also hinting to Shylock that heavenly mercy is the only thing that can change justice, and it is unchangeable otherwise.Mercy is something that enhances justice, and mercy seasons justice. Too much mercy spoils justice, as it will thus become too lenient, but without mercy, justice is bland.