The Merchant of Venice

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 a virtue and something that is only present in the nicest of people and people with the the most kingly of values. This is very powerful as I make the audience think that they are of kingly values.
What can one achieve through mercy?

One can forgive people for what they have done to you as long as they are sorry and regret doing what they have done and that is when you achieve mercy.
How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)

Religion is in this speech as at the time when it is set religion was a very major part of there lives and the saying of "It is an attribute of god make they believe that they are as good as they can get. That even kings must struggle

 for things that you have already achieved and that god will be happy with you. this makes the audience feel good about them selves and more likely to let Antonio live.

PORTIA

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. 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.

I had trouble with reading of the word's it didn't make sense