As I might've said by now, I have been sharing this quote with others, since I first saw the play, around 2000. You know, back then, you had to use snailmail if you wanted to communicate with anyone, and then you had to wait for a reply. I have shared it with many people, and occassionally thru the mail too. People sometimes tell me not to pester people, especially thru the mail. But I don't know what they are talking about. I rarely get a negative reply, the responses are actually usually positive, and I do include my return address you know. IAE, I think this is really a nice quote to share with people in the justice system, like prosecutors and others who perhaps work on the other side too. I was in fact about the send the following letter to a couple of such people. They are not even in my state, which I guess is unimportant anyways. Here is the letter: Dear [insert name]: My father got me interested in the Shakespeare play the "Merchant of Venice" about 20 years ago. It was actually thru this quote, which he had to memorize by heart in school at the time. Ever since then I have just loved this quote, often sharing it with others (even before the age of the internet, which is ironic). In the play, Portia goes to a proceeding to save the life of her friend. She has to go dressed as a man, because women weren't allowed to in court functions at the time. When the villain Shylock asked Portia, concerning mercy, "On what compulsion must I? Tell me that." She explains that the quality of mercy is not strain'd, i.e., there is never any compulsion in mercy, because then it wouldn't be mercy, although it might be something else perhaps. Because mercy is the gentle rain, to contrast with the torrential rain of justice, that droppeth from heaven upon the "place beneath" (I have always found it ironic that Shakespeare doesn't even want to mention the earth by name, at least at this point). And it is of course always twice blest, because it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. This part is usually interpreted religiously. But I think this quote has a timeless aspect to it, also because it contains such powerful religious imagery. I am not very religious, but I do still believe in God I think. And I don't think I'll ever stop drawing inspiration from this quote and play. She goes on to say, that it is really mercy that becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. People back then thought that power and glory were the most attractive thing of being a ruler. But Shakespeare said it is really mercy, because mercy is above this sceptred sway. And of course, persuant to that, earthly power doth then look likest God's, when mercy seasons justice. Some people may misunderstand this quote, I suppose. Shakespeare wasn't against justice per se. In fact, justice was often brutal back then. Portia is just telling Shylock he may be getting carried away, even with the concept of justice, because of his unreasonable demand (a pound of flesh). But she ends, that though justice may have been his plea, in the course of justice, none of us should expect to see salvation, because no one ever found salvation, in a courtroom. We however do (note the use of the word "do" here, like he assumes we're already doing it), always seek mercy there, perhaps even when we don't know it, both sides, in fact. As I said, I have often shared this quote with a variety of people, because I think it has such a timeless aspect to it. It is really great now that we live in the age of the internet, because I am able to share it with so many more people. Thank you for your time and indulgence, [My name and address, follow...] And, of course this is the quote I am talking about (also enclosed): "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 enthronèd 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... 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." —From Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice”, 1596. [Note. "Strain'd"="Constrained, Compelled".]
Studied Shakespesre in school. At a time I was only interested in rock- roll. Father time has caught up with me, and I have read some from time to time. Until now my knowledge of fine arts was limited to, A Night at the Opera. with the Marxs Brothers.
