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?
She described it as gentle as the rain from heaven and she says that it is more powerful than God or "Godly" and
that it is mightiest in mightiest
What can one achieve through mercy?
One can achieve great power through mercy and can connect us to God
How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)
Throughout the speech Portia refers to God and also refers to Jews. She refers mercy as an attribute
to God and to awe and majesty. Mercy is related to Chritanity.

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: (the two people who are blessed are those who give and those who take)
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown; (mercy can make you greater than the king)
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, (not always in power) (Godly)                                        The attribute to awe and majesty,                                                                                                              Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway; (rule or domination) (king)
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,                 (This is very religious)
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 (If you follow the pounding of flesh=murder)
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.