Mercy – By Shakespeare

 





 William Shakespeare

 


 

Poem

 

  

Summary

This poem shows the human qualities. It is written using many figure of speech to convey the message. The poem points out the hard nature of the rich.  The rich are not merciful but god is merciful to all equally. Those who show Mercy will be blessed. Every man should pour a drop of mercy from great mercy of God. Mercy is given to man because it is the right of man.  If man does not enjoy and value mercy he would lose his humanity and become selfish, greedy for money and power.  

Stanza -1

This stanza says that the quality of mercy has come down on earth from heaven like a gentle rain drops. It is sent by god who is merciful to all equally. Mercy is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. Mercy should be shared among all. To the giver the mercy will bless them with appreciation and love. While to the receiver it help him from punishment.


Stanza – 2

The poet says the most powerful thing in the Universe is Mercy. Showing mercy makes a king better than his crown. The king walks with his scepter among the people to show his dignity and power and dictatorship. That makes the people honor him and fear him. The respect is taken from the subject with the power.  This is not considered as a good human nature in the eyes of God.  One cannot demand respect and love, they have to flow within with genuine feelings.

Stanza -3


The power and the strength of the king creates fear in the hearts of the people. But the poet feels the quality of mercy is better than his scepter. Because mercy makes a person God. People will love and honor and respect them.  Mercy is a mirror which smiles back at you when you smile.   It has the power to solve all poisonous thoughts which could harm a person.

 Poetical Analysis

The merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy. Shylock is seen as the tragic villain. The play emphasizes on the right justice and the blessing of mercy. The “Quality of mercy “is a well-known speech by Portia.

According to Portia mercy is a form of natural flow of feeling. The main theme of the speaker is showing mercy the only way to be like our creator.

Shakespeare uses number of poetic devices to explore the quality of mercy in detail.

 

Simile

“It droppeth as gentle rain from heaven” Portia compares mercy with rain as it falls gently from the heaven”. Mercy too should be like rain drops that should flow in the same way. It natures where it falls upon.

Alliteration

Repetition of same sound in the same line is known as Alliteration Ex: “scepter and sway”.

Repetition              


Justice and mercy are used many times to show the importance of the theme. The poet uses aphorism a short phrase, to show mercy in short, “It blesseth him who gives and him who takes.”  The short term with heavy meaning and thoughts.

Irony

An interesting literary device in which the audience knows something the character in the play do not. Audience knows the lawyer is Portia who has come in male disguise to save Bassanio, but the characters do not. 


Thought provoking and a great speech of Portia on the blessings of Mercy make the work of Shakespeare a great masterpiece.



Thank You

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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