Injustice In The Merchant Of Venice Essay

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Justice By Plea
[“He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers from it”]
-Plato (?)
In Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is usually characterised as the villain, but can also be seen as the tragic hero due to the injustice he suffers from the hands of the other characters solely on the basis of his religion. In the court scene of act IV scene I, Shylock demands for justice when Antonio goes bankrupt and cannot pay the bond, which is a pound of flesh. Portia, disguised as the lawyer, Balthazar, warns him to give mercy with her famous speech,”The quality of mercy is not strained…” (4.1.190) In hopes of freeing Antonio, Bassanio offers double and eventually triple the original sum to turn Shylock away. Both of their efforts are rejected as Shylock persists in his demand for justice. However, Portia tricks Shylock by stating he can have the pound of flesh but no blood may be spilled, rendering his bond useless. She then …show more content…

The Jewish community was forced to live in specified ghettos, wear certain articles of clothing that labeled them as jewish, and were forbidden to take up any profession; except moneylending. This hatred is translated into Shylock's punishment in Act IV scene I. The Duke, who serves as judge, and Portia are both christians, meaning that they are both biased in their judgements. Portia preaches the mercy of her religion and is characterised as an ideal, “the quality of mercy is not strained... “ yet gives none when sentencing Shylock. Her actions reflect those of society, christian idea of justice is the discrimination of jews “if a jew wrong a christian?...”
The law is misused, Portia has no right to be there, she lied about her identity and tricked shylock by manipulating the law christian court tries a jew(duke who oversees proceedings is already on antonios side “an inhuman wretch/ incapable of

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