justice and mercy

Question 1

irony

Answer 1

christians preach mercy, but show shylock none

Question 2

the quality of mercy is not strained; it…

Answer 2

droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven - argueing for mercy -

Question 3

shakespeare makes the audience question…

Answer 3

if justice is truly fair

Question 4

this …. doth give …. here no …. of …….

Answer 4

denies mercy - not justice but a legal loophole

Question 5

how does shylock link his pursuit to for justice to religion

Answer 5

by refusing to show mercy when the duke encourages it, saying that he must carry out his oath. he sees justice as gaining revenge.

Question 6

what shylock shows mercy when the power fell into portia and the dukes hand and antonio

Answer 6

the duke only gave him a fine instead of taking half of his property and not condemning him to death - weather antonio shows mercy depends on the audiences point of view - many modern audiences would find his punishment cruel, focussing on his conversion, whilst elizebthen audiences would have likely thought shylock was being shows mercy and offered salvation

Question 7

motif

Answer 7

motif of the law - Repeated legal language: “the quality of mercy is not strain’d”, “I demand the law”, “I stand for judgment.”

Question 8

i what act has the quote i hate him…

Answer 8

for he is a christian - act 1 scene 3 - delaritive senetence - his hatred is not just rooted in mistreatment but also religious division - shylock doesnt show antonio mercy

The lack of mercy here foreshadows his later insistence on the bond, showing how grudges and prejudice block mercy

Question 9

hath not a jew eyes speech

Answer 9

if you prick us do we not bleed - The repeated questions force the audience to reflect on how unjustly he’s been treated. Shakespeare may be using Shylock to critique a society that talks of mercy but fails to practice it. - portias speech later in the courtroom then shows that christians do not show as much mercy as they preach