The Deeds of Mercy

Well, last night I went and saw an excellent production of The Merchant of Venice performed by the "Shakespeare by the Sea" company. Every summer "Shakespeare by the Sea" chooses two Shakespeare plays (usually a comedy and a tragedy) and travels to different oceanic cities around Southern California for six weeks giving quality performances absolutely free. I must admit I was somewhat apprehensive about going this year after being quite disappointed by their performance of Hamlet last summer. However The Merchant of Venice turned out to be quite enjoyable. Despite never having seen the play in its entirety before, and only having read portions of the text itself, I already had an appreciation for its characters and plot. Before I continue I must commend the actors who played Shylock and Antonio, who were both excellently cast and convincing in their roles as the bitter Jew and the unfortunate merchant.

Here is Antonio and Bassanio making the agreement with Shylock

Here is Bassanio winning the hand of the fair Portia.

In addition to enjoying the play for its quick wit and gripping plot, Shakespeare presents a rather interesting and important theme of mercy. Early in the play, the merchant Antonio agrees to a bond with Shylock wherein, if he cannot repay his debt, he will be forced to surrender a pound of flesh from any portion of the body Shylock so desires. When Antonio's shipments are lost, he is unable to repay the bond and must submit to its gruesome requirements. During the climax of the play (Act IV Scene I) Bassanio's wife Portia (unbeknownst to him) arrives at the court disguised as a man to act as Antonio's lawyer. She tries to convince Shylock that he should show mercy:

PORTIA
Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK
On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

PORTIA
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

Yet, despite this eloquent speech, Shylock stubbornly demands the letter of the law to be carried out. Portia then plays to Shylock's thirst for justice by pretending to wish an ill fate upon Antonio. However, she warns Shylock that the agreement says nothing of Antonio's blood and that if a drop is extracted, Shylock may be condemned to death. In despair, Shylock must beg for mercy and is forced by the court to forfeit half his lands and to become a Christian. In this scene it is interesting to notice Shylock's demand for the exact letter of the Law and his wish only for justice instead of mercy. One may wonder though: did the court really show Shylock true mercy? and can you really force another person to change their beliefs by simply demanding that they do so? When an individual becomes a Christian, a change of heart is necessary for true conversion. One may claim to be a Christian and maintain the outward pious appearance, but without repentance, they remain unchanged by the grace of God. In Romans, Paul asserts this when he proclaims, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outwardly in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (2:28-29). Just as one cannot be a Jew by claiming to be so without any belief, one cannot be a Christian by solely proclaiming to be one out of fear, but must also have a profound sincerity of heart coupled with a proclamation of faith. Just some stuff to think about.

The speech Portia gives is exquisitly beautiful. The Bard was indeed a very brilliant and wise man. Man's mercy is indeed a slight fraction of the true power of the mercy of God. Humankind is enslaved in a bond much like Antonio, but with much graver consequences. In the end, we do not shed our own blood, similar once again to Antonio, because Christ has already paid for the bond through His mercy, His own blood. Though God is just, He is also merciful, for He offers us the opportunity of eternal life.

Thank you William Shakespeare for giving me so much food for thought.