William Shakespeare 's characters, in the fourth act of The Merchant of Venice, display such blatant hypocrisy that the outcome of the court proceeding is almost darkly comical. Portia speaks of mercy and yet shows none, in defense of a man who earlier showed no mercy yet later feigned innocence. On that account, Antonio had earlier spat upon Shylock, and called him any number of names and slurs. Shylock 's near moment of revenge, then abrupt fall from power mark the height of the hypocrisy of the characters who would be traditionally associated with Christian values, by virtue of their religion. Portia 's speech, in which she extols the “quality of mercy”, she displays her knowledge of mercy, and yet refuses to show any to the perceived villain
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During this exchange, Skylock remarked that earlier that week, Antonio had spat upon him and called him a dog. To this accusation, Antonio responded that he was “like to do again, to spit upon thee again, to spurn thee too.”(ll. 121-122, Act 1, Scene 3). Later on, when Antonio and Shylock are in court, and Shylock has every right under the law to exact his revenge upon Antonio, the latter laments his predicament as if he were an innocent lamb to be slaughtered. Shylock attempts to convince the others of his perspective by relating Antonio to a rat, for which he would “give ten thousand ductats to have it baned” (ll. 45-46, Act 4, Scene …show more content…
She calls Shylock to wait, and then uses the wording of the bond against him, claiming that the only way in which Shylock for fairly retrieve his bond, would be if he could cut an exact pound of flesh without drawing blood. She convinces the court and Shylock that such a task would be impossible, therefore he relents and opts to take the monetary compensation offered by Bassanio. Instead of allowing this to transpire, she then calls into play another Venetian law, which stated “if it be proved against an alien that by direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen, the party 'gainst the which he doth contrive shall seize one half of his goods; the other half comes to the privy coffer of the state, and the offender 's life lies in the mercy of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice.” (ll. 344 – 351, Act 4, Scene 1). By invoking this law, she then takes away justice from Shylock, and causes him to lose not only his property, but his very religion, as Antonio then demands that Shylock “presently become a Christian.” (ll. 382. Act 4, Scene 1) In doing so, she uses none of the mercy which she had spoken of just minutes
During this exchange, Skylock remarked that earlier that week, Antonio had spat upon him and called him a dog. To this accusation, Antonio responded that he was “like to do again, to spit upon thee again, to spurn thee too.”(ll. 121-122, Act 1, Scene 3). Later on, when Antonio and Shylock are in court, and Shylock has every right under the law to exact his revenge upon Antonio, the latter laments his predicament as if he were an innocent lamb to be slaughtered. Shylock attempts to convince the others of his perspective by relating Antonio to a rat, for which he would “give ten thousand ductats to have it baned” (ll. 45-46, Act 4, Scene …show more content…
She calls Shylock to wait, and then uses the wording of the bond against him, claiming that the only way in which Shylock for fairly retrieve his bond, would be if he could cut an exact pound of flesh without drawing blood. She convinces the court and Shylock that such a task would be impossible, therefore he relents and opts to take the monetary compensation offered by Bassanio. Instead of allowing this to transpire, she then calls into play another Venetian law, which stated “if it be proved against an alien that by direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen, the party 'gainst the which he doth contrive shall seize one half of his goods; the other half comes to the privy coffer of the state, and the offender 's life lies in the mercy of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice.” (ll. 344 – 351, Act 4, Scene 1). By invoking this law, she then takes away justice from Shylock, and causes him to lose not only his property, but his very religion, as Antonio then demands that Shylock “presently become a Christian.” (ll. 382. Act 4, Scene 1) In doing so, she uses none of the mercy which she had spoken of just minutes