There is a method to the madness which is Shakespearean comedy. Every Comedy has a pattern and "The Merchant of Venice" is no exception. This highly social dilemma centers on the pursuit of love and money and ends with the joyous acquisition of just that. But while beautiful people pursue beautiful things, something dark is happening and is being brought to light through the Shakespearean spirit. The sources of human identity are investigated as a Venetian loan shark transforms into the monster he is forced to become and a beautiful heiress turns mercy and justice into an evil deception. Portia's plea for mercy in the fourth act is the most poetic and moving speech in this entire play and it is in comparison to this oration that the disturbing undertones of "The Merchant of Venice" become most evident. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay A close reading of Portia's Mercy Speech (IV, i, 190-212) reveals a tone and rhetoric quite unlike anything else in this play. "The quality of mercy is not forced./It enjoys like a gentle rain from heaven/On the place below. It is twice blessed:/It blesses him who gives and he who takes."Portia is speaking in tones of imaginative romanticism which in the past was reserved only for courtship. He is trying to convince Shylock that mercy is not something that can be imposed by the court, but that it is something more beautiful and nourishing than anything conceived on earth. Portia also wants Shylock to know that mercy in this case will be best for everyone, a subtle hint that she intends to get what she wants." He is mightier in the mightiest; he becomes/ The monarch on the throne better than his crown./ The her scepter shows the strength of temporal power,/ The attribute of awe and majesty/ Wherein lies the terror and fear of kings;/ But mercy above this dominion of the scepter "Portia is clearly making a comparison between Shylock and the king of men he will become if he has mercy. He explains that those who are powerful will show mercy, implying that if he doesn't, he is weak. Portia insinuates that Shylock is the leader of this situation and can use his advantage to intimidate and frighten everyone at court, but that his compassion must prevail over this desire to dominate." He is enthroned in the hearts of kings;/ It is an attribute to God himself;/ And earthly power then shows itself more like that of God/ When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,/ Though justice is your supplication, consider this:/ That in the course of justice no one is useful/ see salvation. goes on to show that mercy is a quality of God that can be passed down through the kings of men. Mercy is the only way through which men can emanate the power closest to that of God, above all when applied to the justice sought by man. Christian doctrine preaches that, since Adam and Eve fell into sin, only God's mercy can provide salvation. Portia implores Shylock that in his personal search for justice no one will find salvation and which would be better for everyone involved in his granting of mercy. works of mercy." In the Lord's Prayer we must ask God to forgive us "as we forgive our debtors." Portia is telling Shylock that if he has ever desired mercy, then he is morally obligated to grant it in turn. / It is necessary to issue a sentence against the merchant there." Portia has tried to mercifully temper Shylock's plea for justice, but if he persists, the court will have no choice but to bringthe sentence ends. In summary, Portia passes a sentence to Shylock out of mercy. He speaks of mercy in romantic and celestial terms as he compares givers of mercy to kings. He looks to God as the source of mercy and declares that it is the closest we can emulate God's power is to grant mercy to ourselves. He insists that it is the obligation of every human being to grant mercy if he wants the same treatment for himself. Mercy is the best and only morally honest choice, but if Shylock ignores it, he will finish the sentence. The whole thing is a ridiculous comedy. The attitude and message of this monologue is contrary to that of most of this drama and is designed as a foil to accentuate the circle of cruelty that is "The Merchant of Venice." Circles are a dominant theme in this play. Shylock earns money and then lends it. Antonio sends out his money hoping that it will return to him well accompanied. Bassanio draws an analogy between his expenses in courtship and his past experiences with arrows where "when I had lost a shaft, / I shot his flying companion / To find the other" (I,i,147-151 ). Bassanio also wants to send money in hopes that it will bring him back more in the form of Portia. There are also physical circles in the work; the rings given to Bassanio and Graziano. These rings travel a circular path, as they are given, given again, and eventually find their way back to where they came from. The many circles of the play parallel the general circle that dominates the plot: that of cruelty. The Christian Antonio brutally tortures and abuses the local Jew until Shylock becomes so mad with hatred that he seeks violent revenge. The cruelty returns to the Christians when Shylock cunningly tricks Antonio into placing his life in the merchant's hands and then Shylock demands the forfeit of his bail. Portia's mercy speech at the trial is the pinnacle of the play as it highlights what should be done in the face of all the cruelty that has been committed. The audience is given the expectation that the cycle of cruelty will finally be broken, that the antagonist can actually be offered something charitable and dignified. It's not like that. In the context of the entire play, Portia's Mercy Speech is hilarious as it is quite comical to think that any creature in this play is actually capable of doing a moral and merciful thing. All characters are given the opportunity to choose the human path and each of them abandons it. Portia begins her speech with a romantic idea of ​​the delights that descend from heaven. Its quixotic tone serves to highlight the complete lack of romance in the work. Every relationship in Venice seems gilded not by love, but by money. Bassanio seeks out Portia because she is incredibly rich and Lorenzo's pockets also benefit from his elopement with Jessica. These characters know nothing about romance as husbands are picked from a coffin, cruel tricks are played on newlywed husbands, and newlyweds are willing to give away their wedding rings to near-strangers. There are also other examples of how Portia's speech is in direct contrast to how the characters actually act. Portia speaks about the kingship of mercy by highlighting the tricks that are used throughout the play by Shylock and Portia herself to achieve what is in their best interests. At the conclusion of her mercy speech, Portia promises that the court will grant Shylock what he wants when in reality she intends to do the exact opposite. Portia talks about how a commitment to the Lord requires mercy while showing no mercy to Shylock at the end of the trial. Soon after his plea, she robs Shylock.