The merchant of Venice – Shakespeare 1994

I am not sure I get this play.

There is a tension as Shylock is asked to place mercy above justice, just so they condemn him, without mercy.

“Duke of Venice:

How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

Shylock:

What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong?

You have among you many a purchased slave,

Which like your asses and your dogs and mules.

You use in abject and in slavish parts.

Because you bought them: -  shall I say to you,

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?” (Shakespeare, 1994, p.407).

“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:

(…)

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.” (Shakespeare, 1994, p.409).