'The Merchant of Venice'
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Shy: A Daniel come to judgment: yea a Daniel!
O wise young judge how I do honour thee!

Gra: A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!-
Now infidel I have you on the hip.

In our previous lesson we began to consider the play, The Merchant of Venice, from which the extracts above are taken. You were then asked to examine Portia's speech on the quality of mercy. I hope you enjoyed doing so. Discussions on this play tend to be very lively as there has always been some disagreement surrounding Portia's role and the judgment against Shylock on the one hand and Shylock's determination to have his pound of flesh on the other.

In the speeches above, we have both speakers lauding Portia for her skill, but not at the same time nor for the same arguments that she advances. When she points out the legality of Shylock's demand for the pound of flesh, Shylock praises her. Later, when she makes it clear that Shylock has no right under the bond to shed blood or to cut more of Antonio's flesh than is specified, she receives Gratiano's commendation.

One of Shakespeare's best known dramatic speeches is the one made by Portia on the quality of mercy in this play. In it she extols the virtues of forgiveness as she seeks to change Shylock's attitude. What I would like you to bear in mind at this point is that the duke has failed to convince the Jew to have compassion on Antonio. Bassanio has also failed, despite offering to pay twice that which was owed. So when Portia speaks, she does so from the position that the person to whom she is appealing is very, very determined to stand on the law under which he has a right to the pound of flesh.

I have often imagined that she begins to speak softly and in a calm and reasonable tone as befits the words she uses. She tells him (and us) that mercy is not strained, but is as mild as softly falling rain. As a Jew, Shylock would have been familiar with the religious teaching about mercy and perhaps that is why she compares it to rain from Heaven as she tries to remind him of what should be his own religious beliefs.

She then draws his attention to the fact that there is benefit in being merciful, letting him know that he, too, would get something rewarding from being compassionate. Portia points out that mercy has the greatest effect when used by those who are powerful and drives home the point when she says that mercy is a better attribute in a king (or queen) than the very crown which is worn as a sign of position.

As she warms to her theme, she informs Shylock that mercy is more important in a ruler than his power and that it is an aspect of God

Himself. Clearly, she is putting forward arguments that she expects to carry weight with Shylock. Obviously, he does not respond as she would like and so she continues on the same line in suggesting that a human being who is merciful is behaving in a similar fashion to God. She attempts to clinch her argument when she comments that as Shylock appeals for justice, he should remember that salvation comes from God's mercy and that if that were not so, none of us would be saved and that in the same way that we ask for mercy, we should be willing to dispense it. Unfortunately, she is speaking as a Christian and Shylock is a Jew, with a different religious view, and so he remains untouched by her eloquence.

We need to consider Shylock's reasons for behaving in the way he does although we may not agree with his desire to take Antonio's life. Let us, therefore, look at his response to Salerio (in Act 111 Scene 1) when he questions whether Shylock would take the pound of flesh from Antonio if he could not repay the loan. It is here that he reveals his pain at the way he had been treated by Antonio. He says:

1. Antonio had caused him to lose money. This suggests that Antonio had probably helped borrowers from Shylock to pay off their loans, thus reducing the amount of interest he should have earned or perhaps Antonio had made loans without interest to persons who used to or would have borrowed from Shylock.

2. Antonio laughed at Shylock when he failed to make profit from usury.

3. He mocked (and this would not have been in a kind way) Shylock when he profited from lending money at interest.

4. He belittled Shylock because he was a Jew, in other words he discriminated against Shylock due to his religion.

It is the discrimination that seems to enrage Shylock above everything else. Do notice how the greater part of this speech is spent questioning and at the same time pointing out that Jews and Christians are both human with the same emotions and reactions. Then he concludes with an ominous statement:

The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.

This statement prepares us for the obduracy (I chose this word deliberately) with which he faces all those who try to change his mind. Let me remind you that because Shakespeare has created a Jewish antagonist, he cannot have him subscribe to Christian beliefs and practices. The question, therefore, of mercy in the context of his relationship with Antonio would not have been significant to Shylock.

Until next time, please organise your study timetable and work steadily for your success. God bless!

Norman Thompson (left), branch manager of Eureka/Ripon Branch of Churches Co-operative Credit Union presents a cheque for $100,000 to Crystal Robinson (right), Head Girl of the Charlie Smith High School. The presentation was made at the Eureka/Ripon Road Branch of Churches Credit Union. Looking on are (from second left) Janyce Robinson, assistant general manager of Credit Administration at Churches Credit Union, Lawetta Lugg, Guidance Counsellor at Charlie Smith High; Dwight Rose and Orlando Stern, students at the school and Errol Smikle (second right), acting principal of Charlie Smith High School. - Contributed

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.