Theme- Merchant of Venice

The divine quality of mercy is better than justice, explain?

These lines are an extract from ‘The Merchant of Venice. It is from Portia’s speech in the famous trial scene. As per the agreement he owes a pound of flesh to shylock, even though it is an unfair agreement. Portia, a highly intelligent lady disguised as a lawyer pleads for mercy in favor of Antonio. She says that mercy is a natural and spontaneous quality of human being It is as natural as the dropping of rain from heaven. It should come naturally and it cannot be forced upon anybody. It’s a rare virtue exhibited by the person showing mercy and also by the person receiving it. It does honour to even kings and emperors, and justice is considered to be its highest and best form when tempered (mingled) with mercy.