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? How important and powerful is it?


Portia describes mercy as "gentle rain from the heaven" meaning that it is a gift that is given from God and is noble for one to give mercy upon another person.

What can one achieve through mercy?


The one who gives mercy is the "mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes the throned monarch better than the crown" meaning that one can achieve righteousness and respect from giving mercy upon someone being kingly or a monarch who is better than his crown.

How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)


God is mentioned throughout the speech and the use of monarchs in "the throned monarch better than his crown" and suggesting that mercy is a gift from the heavens "mercy is not strain'd it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven"


PORTIA

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, (easy to give mercy)
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven (simile mercy from God, mercy=God)
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: (parallel structure)
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes (the greatest gives mercy)
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, (temporary power)
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway; (scepter represents power on earth)
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself; (Theme of the verse)
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.