True Cristian Kindness- Merchant Of Venice Essay, Research Paper

True Christian Kindenss?

The word sort can be defined as sympathetic and generous or natural, following one s nature. The term clemency combines these thoughts into a fitting thought in the drama. Mercy can be defined as sort and considerate intervention that you show person, particularly when you forgive them or make non penalize them. The thought of clemency in the Merchant of Venice is used to develop the thoughts of Christian society versus the encroacher to this society, Shylock. Mercy is clearly of greatest importance to the Christians in this text. It is mentioned in the test scene by two characters & # 8211 ; the Duke, 3 times, and Portia, in her pretense as the attorney Balthazar, 10 times. Mercy is ne’er mentioned by Shylock, connoting either that he does non believe in it, or that he sees a hidden motivation behind the Christians & # 8217 ; insisting that he should be merciful to Antonio. In the test scene, clemency and retaliation reveal the true nature of Venetian society as insecure, hypocritical and vindictive.

The Christian values are seen as insecure by the manner that they are practiced. Mercy is a Christian value associated with the New Testament, therefore contrasting with Shylock & # 8217 ; s Old Testament faith and its image of a more austere and vindictive God. In the first half of the test clemency and retaliation are contrasted. The Duke entreaties to Shylock to be merciful as if he shared their Christian values & # 8211 ;

Shylock the universe thinks, and I think so excessively,

That 1000 but leadest this manner of thy maliciousness

To the last hr of act, and so & # 8217 ; Ti thought

Thou & # 8217 ; ll demo thy mercy & # 8230 ; ( IV.i.18-21 )

The deduction is that demanding Antonio & # 8217 ; s decease for give uping a bond is & # 8220 ; unusual apparent inhuman treatment & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.22 ) , unnatural and that & # 8220 ; the universe & # 8221 ; ( Venetian blue society ) agrees with him. Shylock demands his bond with no other justification than & # 8220 ; a lodg & # 8217 ; 500 hatred, and a certain abhorrence / I bear Antonio & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.61-62 ) . He tries to warrant taking a lb of Antonio & # 8217 ; s flesh by appealing to the Venetian & # 8217 ; s sense of ownership, comparing it to their slaves & # 8211 ; & # 8221 ; The lb of flesh which I demand of him / Is in a heartfelt way bought, & # 8217 ; tis mine and I will hold it & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.100-101 ) . Shylock & # 8217 ; s usage of unusual linguistic communication and images makes him look uncivilized in contrast with the Christians & # 8217 ; talk of gradualness and clemency.

Hipocracy can be seen in Portia s address, which tries to coerce Shylock to alter his beliefs. Portia & # 8217 ; s speech on clemency brings in the facet of power, painting a image to allure Shylock to believe he can portion this power by being merciful, therefore accepting Christian values & # 8211 ;

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It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes,

& # 8216 ; Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes

The throned sovereign better than his Crown. ( IV.i.193-195 )

Shylock & # 8217 ; s answer & # 8211 ; & # 8220 ; My workss upon my caput! I crave the jurisprudence & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.213 ) & # 8211 ; makes him look wholly without clemency, at least superficially. However, we know that Shylock has small ground to swear Christian Venetian society because he has been abused and reviled by Antonio and others. It seems more likely that by being merciful, he would be accepting their value system and be taking the first measure towards assimilation within Christian society particularly since his girl has already converted voluntarily.

Vengeance is seen when in Antonio s abuse of power. Antonio would hold won in tribunal and in society, and could experience justified in handling Shylock with even less respect than earlier. Shylock would lose power, and therefore making a power battle between Shylock and Antonio. Once Shylock is defeated by Portia & # 8217 ; s cagey reading of the jurisprudence, we see that he is now at the clemency of the tribunal. It is here that clemency and retaliation becomes equated. Portia tells Shylock that for endangering the life of Antonio, his goods are confiscate & # 8220 ; And the wrongdoer & # 8217 ; s life lies in the clemency / Of the Duke merely & # 8230 ; . & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.370-371 ) . She finishes by stating & # 8220 ; Down hence, and beg clemency of the duke. & # 8221 ; ( IV.i.378 ) Both the Duke and Antonio appear to be merciful when they spare his life and some of his wealth, but in visible radiation of Shylock & # 8217 ; s tenuous place in Venetian society, it would look that they are seeking to wholly oppress him, particularly when he is required to go a Christian. Shylock feels he might every bit good be dead & # 8211 ;

Nay, take my life and all, pardon non that, –

You take my house, when you do take the prop

That doth sustain my house: you take my life

When you do take the agencies whereby I live. ( IV.i.390-393 )

These characters have shown no clemency in their vindictive Acts of the Apostless against Shylock.

True Christian kindness is non seen by the character s actions. To the Christians, clemency has different significances and uses in this test scene. It is used to seek to allure Shylock to acknowledge Christian values as superior to his ain, to allure him with the psychotic belief of power if he accepts them, and when he refuses, to oppress him and take away all his economic, spiritual and racial power. This maltreatment of clemency besides reveals Venetian society to be greedy for power, hypocritical in its usage of Christian values for secular purposes, and vindictive. Mercy, and its utilizations and abuses, is revealed as holding a power far greater than is at first apparent.