The
Quality of Mercy – By William Shakespeare
📘 Source
- Extracted
from The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I.
- Spoken by Portia,
disguised as a young male lawyer (Balthasar), in the court of the Duke of
Venice.
💬 Text (Extract)
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.
🧾 Summary (in simple language)
In
this famous speech, Portia tries to convince Shylock, the Jewish
moneylender, to show mercy toward Antonio, who owes him a pound
of flesh. She argues that mercy is a divine quality—not forced but given
freely like gentle rain from heaven. Mercy blesses both the giver and the
receiver.
True
power is not in harsh rule or fear, but in compassion. Even kings appear
god-like when they combine justice with mercy. Portia reminds Shylock that if
everyone demanded strict justice, nobody would be saved, because all humans
need mercy. Hence, we should also practice mercy as we pray for it from God.
🔍 Paraphrase
(Line by Line Explanation)
|
Original Line |
Meaning / Explanation |
|
The quality
of mercy is not strain’d; |
Mercy cannot
be forced; it comes naturally from a kind heart. |
|
It droppeth
as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: |
It falls
freely, softly, and naturally like rain from heaven. |
|
It is twice
blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: |
Mercy
benefits both the giver and the receiver. |
|
’Tis mightiest
in the mightiest; it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown: |
A king
appears greatest when he shows mercy; it suits him more than his crown. |
|
His sceptre
shows the force of temporal power... |
A sceptre
(royal staff) symbolizes worldly power and authority that commands fear. |
|
But mercy is
above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings: |
Mercy is
higher than earthly power; it rules the hearts of kings. |
|
It is an
attribute to God himself; |
Mercy is a
divine quality belonging to God. |
|
And earthly
power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice. |
Human power
becomes god-like when justice is softened by mercy. |
|
Therefore,
Jew... consider this, |
Portia
appeals to Shylock to think carefully. |
|
That, in the
course of justice, none of us should see salvation: |
If strict
justice were applied to everyone, no one would be saved. |
|
We do pray
for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of
mercy. |
Since we ask
God for mercy, we must also be merciful to others. |
🌟 Theme /
Central Idea
- Mercy vs.
Justice: True justice must be guided by mercy;
otherwise, it becomes cruel.
- Divine
Quality of Mercy: Mercy is a god-like attribute, showing
the best side of human nature.
- Power and
Humanity: True power lies in compassion, not in
punishment or fear.
- Moral
Lesson: We should show mercy because we all need
it ourselves.
✨ Critical
Appreciation
“The
Quality of Mercy” is one of Shakespeare’s most beautiful and moral speeches. It
reflects Renaissance humanism — the belief in the goodness of man and divine
moral values. Portia’s speech turns the legal court scene into a spiritual
discourse, showing that love and forgiveness are higher than law
and revenge.
Her
reasoning is logical yet deeply emotional. The imagery of “gentle rain from
heaven” symbolizes natural goodness and divine grace. Through Portia,
Shakespeare teaches that mercy perfects justice, and without it,
humanity would perish.
🧠 Literary Devices
|
Device |
Example |
Effect |
|
Simile |
“Mercy
droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven” |
Compares
mercy to rain, symbolizing purity and gentleness. |
|
Metaphor |
“Mercy is
enthroned in the hearts of kings” |
Suggests
mercy as a royal virtue within noble hearts. |
|
Alliteration |
“Blesseth him
that gives and him that takes” |
Adds rhythm
and emphasis. |
|
Imagery |
“Gentle rain
from heaven” |
Creates a
peaceful, divine image. |
|
Contrast |
“Temporal
power” vs. “Divine mercy” |
Highlights
difference between human and godly authority. |
|
Personification |
“Mercy
seasons justice” |
Gives mercy a
human quality of tempering justice. |
💭 Critical Views
- Harold
Bloom: “Portia’s speech transcends the
courtroom; it becomes a hymn to divine compassion.”
- Dr.
Johnson: “The noblest plea ever uttered against
revenge.”
- A.C.
Bradley: “It elevates Shakespeare’s legal drama
into a moral sermon on humanity.”
🏷️ Important Questions
Q1. Who speaks the poem “The Quality of Mercy”?
To whom and where?
A. The speech is spoken by Portia,
disguised as a young lawyer, to Shylock, the Jewish
moneylender, in the courtroom of Venice during
Antonio’s trial.
Q2. What is meant by “The quality of mercy is
not strain’d”?
A. It means mercy cannot be forced or compelled;
it must come naturally from a kind and gentle heart, like rain that falls
freely from the heavens.
Q3. What comparison does Portia make to explain
mercy?
A. Portia compares mercy to “the
gentle rain from heaven” that falls softly upon the earth. This
shows that mercy is natural, pure, and refreshing for both giver and receiver.
Q4. What does Portia mean by “It blesseth him
that gives and him that takes”?
A. She means mercy benefits both
the one who shows it and the one who receives it. The giver gains spiritual
joy, and the receiver gains forgiveness and relief.
Q5. Why does Portia say mercy is “mightiest in
the mightiest”?
A. Because when powerful rulers or kings show
mercy, they display true greatness. Their mercy is a higher virtue than their
earthly power.
Q6. What does the sceptre symbolize in the
poem?
A. The sceptre symbolizes temporal
(worldly) power—authority, fear, and punishment. But mercy,
Portia says, is greater than this kind of power.
Q7. What is meant by “It is an attribute to God
himself”?
A. Portia says mercy is a divine
quality—a trait that belongs to God. Humans become god-like
when they show mercy.
Q8. What does Portia mean by “When mercy
seasons justice”?
A. She means that justice should always be tempered
with mercy. True justice is not harsh; it becomes divine when
softened by forgiveness.
Q9. What warning does Portia give to Shylock
about demanding strict justice?
A. Portia warns that if everyone demanded strict
justice, no one would be saved because all humans are imperfect
and need mercy themselves.
Q10. What moral lesson does “The Quality of
Mercy” teach us?
A. It teaches that mercy is a noble virtue that
makes people truly human and god-like. We must show mercy to others because we
ourselves seek mercy from God.
Q11. How does Portia’s speech reflect Christian
values?
A. The speech reflects Christian ideals of forgiveness,
compassion, and divine grace. It shows that mercy is a godly
virtue higher than vengeance or strict law.
Q12. What effect did Portia’s speech have on
Shylock?
A. Shylock remains unmoved and insists on justice
and his bond. His refusal to show mercy leads to his downfall later in the
trial.
Q13. Why is mercy called “twice blest”?
A. Mercy is “twice blessed” because it blesses
both the giver and the receiver — the giver with joy and the
receiver with forgiveness.
Q14. What contrast does Portia draw between
justice and mercy?
A. Justice is strict and based on law; mercy is
gentle and based on love. Justice punishes, but mercy forgives. Portia says
both must work together for true righteousness.
Q15. What message does Shakespeare convey
through this passage?
A. Shakespeare teaches that true
greatness lies in compassion, not in power or revenge. A
merciful person is closer to God and humanity.
