Teaching and Learning Institute
Case:
Ethics and Literature:
An Example from The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (1598)
| Portia: | Is your name Shylock? |
| Shylock: | Shylock is my name. |
| Portia: | Of a strange nature is the suit you follow,
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed…
You stand within his danger, do you not? |
| Antonio: | Ay, so he says. |
| Portia: | Do you confess the bond? |
| Antonio: | I do. |
| Portia: | Then must the Jew be merciful. |
| Shylock: | On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. |
| Portia: | The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed,
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes,
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown,
His scepter 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 of 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. |
- What qualities of mercy does Portia point out to Shylock?
- What does she hope to accomplish by her speech?
- Why is Shylock so committed to “the justice of [his] plea”?
- Should any codes be applied to bargains or agreements?
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