Original artwork, not a still
The Merchant of Venice ‧ 1600
The quality of mercy is not strained.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The line is Shakespeare's argument that mercy is not forced from above but given freely, and that it blesses the giver as much as the receiver. It works as the play's moral centre, even though Shylock, the man it is aimed at, is treated far from mercifully by the end. It is the standard courtroom, school-recital and speech-day quotation for the idea that justice is better for a little gentleness.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Merchant of VeniceShow the scene
In Act 4, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, the court of the Duke of Venice is about to rule on Shylock's bond: a pound of Antonio's flesh for an unpaid loan. Portia, Bassanio's new wife, has slipped into the court disguised as a young doctor of laws sent from Padua. She asks Shylock whether he must not be merciful. He asks what could compel him, and Portia answers with this speech on mercy, which runs on to say that mercy seasons justice. Shylock still demands the law, and she then turns the bond's wording against him.
Sources (1)
- The Merchant of Venice, full text (Project Gutenberg)Act 4, Scene 1 (Venice, a court of justice)Reference checked
Context reviewed
