Why must Shylock show 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.i. 179 ). Because mercy is an attribute of God, Portia reasons, humans approach the divine when they exercise it.
Why does Shylock refuse to get a doctor to attend Antonio?
Why does Shylock refuse to get a doctor to attend to Antonio? • He wants Antonio to suffer. • Shylock specifically says its not in the contract. How does Portia save Antonio's life?
What happens if Shylock repents and humbly begs for mercy?
The other half would go to the state, but if he repents and humbly begs for mercy, the state may just impose a fine instead of taking the full amount. The Duke decrees that Shylock must abide by the conditions put forward by Antonio, otherwise he will withdraw the forgiveness he has extended to him. 2.
Why does Shylock refuse to give an exact reason to the Duke?
Shylock is answering the Duke's suggestion that he expects a gentle answer from him. Shylock says that he will not give an exact reason. He goes on to state that he has undivided whims like other men. If his house is infested with rats, he may spend ten thousand ducats to have them poisoned.
What does Shylock say about 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. i. 179 ).
Why did Shylock not agree to Portia's plea for mercy?
Portia says that mercy is "twice blessed" and is considered an "attribute to God himself." After Portia encourages Shylock to drop the case by showing mercy toward Antonio, Shylock responds by saying, My deeds upon my head. I crave the law, The penalty, and forfeit of my bond (Shakespeare 4.1. 195-196).
How does Antonio show mercy to Shylock?
Following the duke's merciful example, Antonio says that he will take only half of Shylock's goods which are due to him (Shylock can have the other half) in trust in order to give them to Lorenzo (Shylock's son-in-law) upon Shylock's death, on two conditions: first, Shylock must become a Christian, and second, he must ...
WHO appealed to Shylock to show mercy?
PortiaShylock was rigid to charge the penalty as mentioned in the bond. Thus Portia appeals to the Jew as she wants to save Antonio without resorting to legal actions. Earlier in the play, the Duke himself and noble men of the highest standing have appealed for mercy to Shylock.
How did Portia plead Shylock show mercy?
Answer. Answer: In act IV, Portia initially attempts to influence Shylock to show Antonio mercy by telling Shylock he should overlook the forfeiture. ... Portia then gives Shylock a knife to retrieve the pound of flesh but mentions that the law will not allow a drop of blood.
How does Shylock react to the Duke's appeal for mercy?
Answer: Shylock turns down the Duke's appeal to be merciful to Antonio. Then he ignores Bassanio's offer of ten times the money he has lent. He rejects Portia's appeal for mercy.
Why does Antonio dislike Shylock?
While Antonio's hatred of Shylock is based solely on religious intolerance, Shylock's hatred of Antonio goes beyond just their differing religious beliefs. One of Antonio's main problems with Shylock is that, as a Jew, Shylock charges interest on his loans, something that Antonio, as a Christian, believes is wrong.
Is Shylock a villain or victim?
He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions.
What is Shylock's punishment?
In the end – due to the efforts of Antonio's well-wisher, Portia – Shylock is charged with attempted murder of a Christian, carrying a possible death penalty, and Antonio is freed without punishment. Shylock is then ordered to surrender half of his wealth and property to the state and the other half to Antonio.
What are the qualities of mercy answer?
Therefore, if a king seasons his justice with mercy, he can become like God himself. Mercy adorns a king better than his crown. The rod of authority in his hand can only create fear in the hearts of men but the quality of mercy can win for him willing slaves. Thus, mercy is more powerful than the king's sceptre.
What crime is Shylock accused of?
Shylock has been accused of attempted murder. He tried to cut half a kilo of flesh from the body of a man whose friend could not pay him back.
What has been offered to Shylock in the place of his demand Why does Shylock refuse the offer?
Why does Shylock demand Antonio's flesh instead of money? Bassanio offers large sums of money to Shylock in exchange for Shylock's forfeit of the original conditions of his bond. Shylock refuses to accept this offer, and he also refuses to justify his decision.
Why did Shylock break the agreement with Antonio?
The contract stipulates that if Antonio does not pay back the money lent to him, Shylock is entitled to a pound of flesh. Antonio cannot pay back the money and so the court is about to grant Shylock the right to take his pound of flesh when Portia steps in.
Why does Shylock suddenly decide to accept this offer?
Solution. Shylock suddenly decides to accept the offer that Bassanio had made previously because now he is trapped and his plan of revenge has failed. Now he wants to gain whatever is possible. Bassanio has made this offer.
How does Shylock respond to Portia?
Answer. Answer: Shylock's response to Portia's request for mercy is to insist on the justice of his cause. As far as he's concerned, he has the law on his side, and he's determined to ensure that the terms of the contract he made with Antonio are fulfilled to the letter.
Why is The quality of mercy not strained How does Portia relate this line to Shylock?
“The quality of mercy is not strained” by William Shakespeare describes how mercy, an attribute to God himself, can save a person's soul and elevate him to the degree of God. In this speech, Portia begs Shylock for showing mercy on Antonio by understanding his situation.
What happened to Shylock after the trial?
After the trial, Shylock is not only denied repayment of the original sum, but is punished for threatening the life of a Venetian, even though Antonio willingly agreed to the terms of the loan. Antonio is legally awarded half of Shylock's fortune, and Shylock may designate the other half to his daughter Jessica and her husband Lorenzo if he converts to Christianity as she has. Shylock unjustly experiences religious persecution, betrayal by his only daughter, and financial ruin at the hands of the other characters, which seems particularly cruel and unmerciful in the context of this play, when so many other characters are spared from heartache.
Is Shylock offered mercy?
Other than being spared from the execution proposed by Portia, Shylock is not offered mercy in The Merchant of Venice , and in fact is humiliated both personally and in business during the course of the play. Shylock's interest-free loan to Bassanio requires the grotesque payment of a pound of Antonio's flesh if left unpaid, and, although these terms demonstrate Shylock's moral depravity, his desire for vengeance is the direct result of Antonio's targeted antisemitism. Both characters behave undesirably towards each other, yet Shylock is vilified while Antonio is supported.
Why does Shylock ask for mercy?
179 ). Because mercy is an attribute of God, Portia reasons, humans approach the divine when they exercise it.
Why does Shylock refuse to have a surgeon?
She orders Shylock to have a surgeon on hand to prevent the merchant from bleeding to death, but Shylock refuses because the bond stipulates no such safeguard. Antonio bids Bassanio farewell.
What does Antonio say to Bassanio?
Antonio bids Bassanio farewell. He asks his friend not to grieve for him and tells Bassanio that he is happy to sacrifice his life, if only to prove his love. Both Bassanio and Gratiano say that, though they love their wives, they would give them up in order to save Antonio. In a pair of sarcastic asides, Portia and Nerissa mutter that Bassanio’s and Gratiano’s wives are unlikely to appreciate such sentiments. Shylock is on the verge of cutting into Antonio when Portia suddenly reminds him that the bond stipulates a pound of flesh only, and makes no allowances for blood. She urges Shylock to continue collecting his pound of flesh, but reminds him that if a drop of blood is spilled, then he will be guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen and all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state. Stunned, Shylock hastily backpedals, agreeing to accept three times the sum, but Portia is insistent, saying that Shylock must have the pound of flesh or nothing. When Shylock finds out that he cannot even take the original three thousand ducats in place of the pound of flesh, he drops the case, but Portia stops him, reminding him of the penalty that noncitizens face when they threaten the life of a Venetian. In such a case, Portia states, half of Shylock’s property would go to the state, while the other half would go to the offended party—namely, Antonio. Portia orders Shylock to beg for the duke’s mercy.
What does Shylock say to Bassanio?
If need be, Bassanio says, he is willing to pay the bond ten times over, or with his own life.
What does Portia say to Shylock?
Portia replies, however, that the law shall not be broken—the decrees of Venice must stand. Shylock joyfully extols Portia’s wisdom, and gives her the bond for inspection. She looks it over, declares it legal and binding, and bids Shylock to be merciful.
What does Portia ask the duke about Shylock?
Portia answers that she knows the case well, and the duke calls Shylock and Antonio before her. Portia asks Antonio if he admits to owing Shylock money. When Antonio answers yes, Portia concludes that the Jew must be merciful.
How many times does Bassanio pay the bond?
If need be, Bassanio says, he is willing to pay the bond ten times over, or with his own life. Bassanio begs the court to bend the law slightly in order to exonerate Antonio, reasoning that such a small infraction is a little wrong for a great right.
How does Shylock respond to having mercy on Antonio?
He gives replies word by word to the questions put forward by his enemies. When asked to give a noble response on having mercy on Antonio, S hylock says that Christians are no better. They treat their slaves as they treat their asses, dogs and mules. He questions if Christians would allow their slaves to intermarry in their families and allow them to have comfortable beds and tasty food like them. He further argues that just as people have no good reason whey cannot put up with a gaping pig, a harmless domestic cat or a bagpipe, he has no reason to give for taking a pound of Antonio's flesh.
What would happen if Shylock was refused justice?
If Shylock were refused justice, the justice system of Venice would be exposed to disrepute and will adversely affect the trade and prosperity of Venice.
Why did Bassanio refuse to give Portia the ring he was wearing?
Bassanio was hesitant to comply to Portia's request of giving her the ring he was wearing because it was a present from his wife. Further, his wife had made him swear never to part with the ring. He offers to give Portia the most valuable ring available in Venice.
What did Shylock say to Portia?
When Portia offered him thrice the due amount for the first time, Shylock told her that he has sworn an oath before God to have nothing but the bond. He cannot commit a sin of breaking an oath and not even for the whole wealth of Venice will he break his oath.
What does the Duke tell Shylock?
He tells Shylock that it is everyone's opinion that Shylock intends to keep up the show of severity and hatred until the last stage of the case. Then he will relent and not only show kindness and pity but will agree to abandon his claim and forego a portion of the original sum borrowed by Antonio.
What would happen if Antonio was shown mercy by the Duke against the wishes of Shylock?
If Antonio is shown mercy by the Duke against the wishes of Shylock, it will expose the justice system of the state that allows right and privileges of trade for foreigners. Besides, foreigners will lose their confidence in the just and impartial administration of law in Venice and this will adversely affect its trade and prosperity.
What does the Duke say about Antonio's loss?
The Duke says that Antonio's losses are enough to draw pity and sympathy for his condition from hearts as hard as brass and as rough as stones and from uncultured Turks and Tartars, who have never been taught the feelings of human kindness. 4.
