Mercy is defined as kindness or forgiveness to somebody you have authority over
while justice is impartiality in law with sound reasoning. In other words, justice defines what
people deserve. However, depending on one’s circumstances, the definitions of these two
words could be defined differently to our own favor. Essentially, the problem to be resolved
is how mercy and justice can be applied simultaneously. If one were to show mercy, then they
would let go of the perpetrator freely, but would this be what the victim deserves? Through
the conflict between Antonio and Shylock, “The Merchant of Venice” demonstrates how
personal definitions of mercy and justice skew the way a problem between two parties is
resolved.
The contrasting positions between the Antonio and Shylock reaches its breaking point
in the court trial where the once oppressed Shylock decides to refuse Antonio mercy. In
public, Antonio, as with the rest of the Christian population, openly mistreat the Jewish
people such as Shylock, calling them “dogs” and even spit on them. Moreover, through the
bond made between him and Antonio, Shylock loses his daughter, Jessica, to the Christians
with Lorenzo stealing her away. Blinded by anger, Shylock seeks revenge and insists on
“justice” against the Christians through Antonio by fulfilling the condition of the inhumane
bond; by parting with a pound of Antonio’s flesh although this, in reality is unjust. Shylock
considers himself right in his position by claiming that he was only demanding legally what is
written in the bond that was agreed upon between the two parties.
Christians, under the dominant Venetian social beliefs, are characterized as
compassionate and are expected to exercise mercy towards the Jewish people of Venice,
although this is rarely ever the case. Mercy attempts to play its role in the conflict through
Portia’s speech where she attempts to persuade Shylock into forgiving Antonio for being
unable to pay the bond.
“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 (Act IV Scene 1, 187-194).”
Unlike most Christians of Venice, Portia seemingly shows mercy towards Shylock. She says
that Shylock in seeking justice, will not receive what he truly wants: to be treated as an equal.
If Shylock wants to have the mercy and equal treatment from the Christians, then he must
first demonstrate mercy toward Antonio and his bond. At the same time, this portion of
Portia’s speech serves as a final chance for Shylock to walk off with his money before she
crushes his legal arguments and serves justice in the context of saving Antonio’s life.
Even after Portia’s final warning to Shylock, he still remains stubborn and insistent
on fulfilling the bond. In the end, the conflict between Shylock’s position of justice and
Antonio’s plea for mercy is resolved through Portia’s manipulation of the law, claiming that
Shylock may take a pound of flesh from Antonio, so long as he doesn’t spill a drop of blood.
Furthermore, it is written in Venetian law that if a non-citizen is proven by law attempt to
threaten the life of a citizen (by taking a pound of flesh from Antonio), that all his wealth may
be confiscated and be divided in half amongst the threatened party and the state treasury.
Shylock, through Venetian law, is also liable to being hanged or shot dead. Now, the
positions of justice and mercy switch places once more, and Shylock now must plead for the
mercy of Antonio and the duke.
Between the duke and Antonio, they decide to spare Shylock’s life. Antonio also
declares that if the state treasury allows Shylock to keep half of his property, that he would
give the remaining half of the property in trust for Lorenzo and Jessica. The remaining two
conditions are for Shylock to immediately convert to Christianity and that upon his death, that
he would give up all of his property to Lorenzo and Jessica. Here, the duke and Antonio they
are showing mercy to Shylock in sparing his life, as well as by not completely disabling him
economically. On the other hand, Shylock has already lost his daughter and is also faced with
abandoning his own religion, forcing him to be looked down upon by both the Jewish and
Christian population of Venice. For Shylock, the road of life is more miserable than one of
immediate death where he would leave all the suffering that he will be put under.
Although mercy and justice can be defined through words, as seen through the court
trial, an individual’s definition of both of these concepts may be skewed by their own
mindset. Shylock, due to blind anger, defined justice as fulfilling the law without an excuse.
When proven wrong, Antonio believes he is displaying mercy by sparing Shylock’s life,
believing that continuing a life of misery is better than death without a second chance. In
reality, Shylock has nothing left for him in this world. Shakespeare resolves the conflict to
“The Merchant of Venice” in favor of Antonio and the Christians without a true balance of
consequences for both parties. But the question remains whether or not there can ever truly be
a balance between one’s definition of mercy and justice to resolve a conflict.