The trial scene in the Merchant of Venice has a theme which is Justice versus Mercy. So Is there true justice? I partially agree that there is true justice. Shylock kept saying throughout the trial scene that he wanted true justice, that Antonio has to let him cut off a pound of his flesh as Antonio failed to comply to the bond. So Portia did gave him justice in the end, by making good use of the law and saying that Shylock can cut off a pound of Antonio's flesh but under one condition: There must not be any blood dripping from the flesh. Since Shylock wants justice so much, Portia gave him the true justice he wants. Shylock's plan to take revenge on Antonio is backfired by himself. But in a way, there is no true justice. Portia is actually just playing with the law, and just by adding a few more words or changing them, Shylock is thus doomed. Also, Portia is a wman, and women are actually smarter than men. Therefore it is unfair to Shylock.
Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? I partially agree that there is true mercy too. Antonio in the end suggest that Shylock convert to a Christian is actually for good. This is so that Shylock will not be mocked so often and will lead a better life in the future. But there is also no true mercy. At the end of the trial scene, Shylock is being forced to give up half of his estates to the State and the other half to Anotio. This is as good as taking his whole life away, like what he said. This is just too cruel. Shylock should be let go after not taking Anotnio's pound of flesh but in the end the tables turned on him too abruptly. Portia is somewhat a bit inhumane in this sense. Anntonio also wants Shylock to convert to Christianity, which i think is the last thing Shylock would expect to happen.
Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. I agree with this matter. For example, in Merchant of Venice, when Shylock wants Antonio's flesh, everyone, including the Duke, wants to persuade Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. This happens just because the Jews were considered a lower class people than the Christians in the past. In the end Shylock lost. In real life, some people escapes from having punishment in court because their friends or family member hold high authority and perhaps pay the layer and witnesses to help them get away from the charges. It is just unfair.
Hi I am Sebastian here. I actually believed that Portia exhibits true justice. According to the bond, only a pound of flesh was allowed to be taken and not Antonio's blood. In terms of law, Shylock was only able to take Antonio's flesh but not his blood. Although this may sound ridiculous but in terms of law it is justified. Portia did not change the law. She just used her brains and played with words against Shylock. Furthermore, I do not agree with you that women are smarter than men. Portia might be smarter than most of the other men at that time but is it true that all other women are also smarter than men? Instead I would like to tackle the fact that women were not allowed to enter the court at that time. Portia was a women who dressed as a men and this would be unfair to Shylock as women were not allowed to enter the court and they have no rights to judge Shylock. If this case was trialled in modern days, it would be fair as women are allowed to enter courts and there are even women judges. It is the mindset of the people in the past that somewhat made the trial unfair but actually it is very fair.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am Darryl.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your perspectives. I feel that there is only partially true justice because Portia only twisted the words in the bond to punish Shylock but this is not "true" justice. It is totally unfair to Shylock. Also, there is partially mercy because the Duke spared Shylock's life. But this mercy is not "true" as the Christians forced Shylock to give up his fortunes. This is just the same as torturing him to death. Thirdly, I feel that it is true that people can manipulate the law like the case in Merchant of Venice where Portia twisted the words in the bond. Thus, all in all, I find the trial somewhat unfair to Shylock.
Hi, im zili
ReplyDeleteyou are kind of contradicting your self. True justice is something which you cant possibly agree with partially. it can only be a yes or no answer. in this case, i don't think there is any true justice. put yourself in shylock's shoes. if you are supposed to get something which is written in black and white and in the end, you get nothing but loses everything you have, including dignity. besides, in the book, they said something about taking away Shylock's fortune, however, does that mean shylock will kill Antonio just by cutting his flesh. besides, it is a court full of christians against one jew. how can there be no prejudice?
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ReplyDeleteI believe that the fact the portia is smarter than shylock does not imply that shylock was unfairly treated. Shylock's actions undermine morality, by wanting to cut of Antonio' flesh without showing any mercy. This is an unforgivable act. There is also the issue that Shylock is being potrayed as evil throughout the entire book.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's fair to Shylock at all. The Duke was against him, Portia was against him and so was almost everyone else. He had no lawyer, Antonio didn't have one either, but the duke and Portia were biased for him so they might as well be his lawyers. He didn't get the pound of flesh, which he should have gotten, and he was also reminded once again that he is only a Jew, and that he will never be equal to the Christians. Then he was forced to give up his religion, which was the only thing he only had left. Portia also entrapped him by pretending to be on his side. Not only that, she also gave him false hope. Shylock was most likely, euphoric that somebody besides Tubal, who is Jewish and his only friend and Leah, who is dead, was on his side for once. That was probably her intention, so she could crush him and break him. Then in the end, he lost almost everything thanks to that sham of a kangaroo court. Antonio should have died, for he not only agreed to the penalty, but he also bullied Shylock repeatedly and he also said that he'd do it again after Shylock lent him the money. Antonio probably bullied Shylock right after he was lent the money. There was no mercy, for the Venetian Christians in the story are all hypocrites. There was also no justice, but it's not because Portia is smarter than him, it's because he was subjected to a kangaroo court that was biased against him. Shylock is a victim of injustice.
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