The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained (Comprehensive Summary)

The quality of mercy is not strained is a monologue by Portia in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice; it occurs during Act 4, Scene 1, set in a Venetian Court of Justice. It is the speech in which Portia begs Shylock for mercy.

The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained

The speech is regarded as one of the brilliant speeches in Shakespeare, and it is an example of the esteem Shakespeare held for those who showed mercy. Here Portia delivers her speech in the famous trial scene.

Disguised as a lawyer, Portia pleads for mercy in favour of Antonio. Her speech is an oft-quoted passage, admired even today for its profound wisdom and persuasive power. The passage extols the power of mercy, which is an attribute of God himself.

In this article, we are going to analyse the speech, ‘ the quality of mercy is not strained by William Shakespeare. However, before we analyse the quality of mercy is not strained’ speech in more detail, let’s look at the full version of the speech, which is more like a poem.

The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strained

The quality of mercy is not strained;
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:
‘T is 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, 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. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.

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Origin

This phrase is taken from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. It occurs where Portia demands Shylock be merciful, stating that “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon the place beneath” (Act-IV, Scene-I).

In this way, Portia directly makes an appeal to Shylock to leave Antonio’s life, saying that, as we all pray and plead to God for mercy, to be merciful and kind towards us, likewise Shylock should be merciful and kind to him, and he will get a reward from heaven.

Meaning

Portia insists on convincing him to be merciful, as God is merciful toward us. You see that the idea of mercy in the passage has a close connection with the Christian idea of salvation.

In fact, she alludes to Christian doctrine that mercy and forgiveness are godly characteristics, and seeking justice without showing mercy, Shylock could face damnation, because by doing this he would disobey the law of God.

Usage

Generally, we find the use of this quote by someone who means to insult or show offensiveness against someone that seems recalcitrant, stubborn, and uninterested in social conventions and humanitarianism. Today, this phrase has a little different meaning.

In its usual context, it is used to refute the claim of people that they have acted generously or mercifully, by telling them that they were short of choices, their only option to do what they have done. Hence, it is like an insult for those demonstrating mercy.

Literary Source

In Act-IV, Scene-I of The Merchant of Venice, Portia says this to Shylock as;

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…
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.”

(The Merchant of Venice, Act-IV, Scene-I, Lines 173-195)

She conveys the idea that mercy is a tender and noble feeling, which must spring suddenly from one’s heart. It is as beautiful as gentle showers that flow in the heavens and nourish the earth.

It blesses those who show mercy, which not only makes them feel good but also brings heavenly rewards.

Mercy is a divine and noble attribute, like when someone imposes harsh justice, but then opts for mercy. He displays God-like attributes.

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The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strained: Summary

Let’s go through the speech bit by bit, Summarising the Content of the phrase and analysing its Features.

The quality of mercy is not strained,
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.

Portia (disguised as Balthazar) tells Shylock, and the court, that mercy is an essential human quality. Being kind and forgiving towards those over whom we have some power is a noble pursuit.

There is something noble about being merciful because you treat those ‘beneath’ you—those over whom you have power – kindly when you could easily do others.

At the same time, of course, there is something ironic in Portia’s rhetorical recourse to Shylock’s innate sense of mercy. If mercy is such a natural quality within us, why does he need to be reminded of it? If it is ‘not strained’ but freely given, why is the court case happening at all?

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The answer, of course, is that Portia is cleverly–and rhetorically – hinting to Shylock that mercy is a natural human impulse which mirrors God’s mercy towards us. So if he refuses to act mercifully towards his debtor, Antonio, then Shylock is not only suggesting he is unnatural or abnormal, but also not following God’s example.

’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown.

When the most powerful people in society—such as kings and queens – show mercy, it is even more significant, because it would be so easy for a monarch not to show mercy towards their subjects.

But again, Portia cleverly suggests to Shylock that mercy in a monarch is a natural and becoming quality, suiting them even more than the crown upon their head.

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.

Similarly, a king’s sceptre – the ornamental staff which he carries with him on ceremonial occasions – may symbolise his power here on earth (‘temporal power’ as distinct from spiritual power), and this makes people ‘dread’ and go in ‘awe’ of their king; but mercy is an even higher and nobler attribute than power.

It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God Himself;

Continuing the throne-king motif, Portia argues that God, too, shows the power of mercy. He is willing to forgive us for our sins, so he is merciful towards us.

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this:

When justice is ‘seasoned’ or accompanied by mercy here on Earth, we are most like God in our ability to be just but also merciful. Shylock has claimed that he wants ‘justice’–his pound of Antonio’s flesh – but where is the evidence of his mercy?

That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,

If this course of justice’–i.e. justice without mercy – is followed, then nobody involved in the verdict deserves to be given God’s salvation, because they are failing to follow his (merciful) example.

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.

Portia reminds Shylock, a Jew, that Christians (‘We’) pray to God for mercy, and through doing so, Christians realise the importance of practising mercy towards others in their own lives.

Of course, giving up a pound of his flesh would involve Antonio’s almost certain death. Shylock doesn’t care, and Portia’s plea that he shows ‘the quality of mercy’ falls on deaf ears.

In the end, she manages to defend Antonio from Shylock’s knife by bringing up a legal technicality: although Antonio agreed to pay up a pound of his flesh if he defaulted on his debt

The bond said nothing about his giving Shylock his blood, and Shylock would be unable to remove the merchant’s flesh without drawing blood.

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The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained (Comprehensive Summary)