The quality of mercy

Objective Type Questions

 

Q1. From which play the extract ‘The Quality of Mercy’ has been taken?

Ans. The Merchant of Venice

 

Q2. Who is the speaker in these lines or in this poem? (The Quality of Mercy)

Ans. Portia

 

Q3. How is mercy ‘Twice Blest’?

Ans. The giver of mercy is blessed by God and the receiver feels happy on the earth.

 

Q4. How can a king become like God Himself?

Ans. If he adds mercy to his justice. Or by seasoning Justice with mercy.

 

Q5. What is the scepter symbol of?

Ans. Scepter is the symbol of earthly power.

 

Q6. Can anyone be forced to show mercy?

Ans. No, it cannot be forced

 

Short Answers Type Questions

 

Q1. Why does the speaker compare mercy with the gentle rain from heaven?

Ans. The speaker (Portia in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice’) compares mercy with gentle rain from Heaven, because the both have much in common between them. Both are heavenly things, These come naturally and spontaneously without any effort. Both of these cannot be had by using any force. Both of these have a good and soothing effect.

 

Q2. How is mercy ‘twice blest’?

Ans. Mercy is double blessing. It proves to be a blessing to the person, who shows mercy, as god blesses him and it is also a blessing for the person, who receives it, because he is relieved of his pain and misery. In this way, mercy is ‘twice blest’.

 

Q 3. How is mercy, according to speaker, above the ‘sceptred sway’ of kings?

Ans. ‘Sceptred Sway’ means the rod, which is the symbol of king’s authority. This rod of authority creates awe and fear in the hearts of king’s subjects. But, mercy is above this rod. It is a Divine quality, which is bestowed by God Himself. This Divine quality, if enthroned in the hearts of kings proves far better than their ‘sceptred sway.’

 

Q4. Why should justice be seasoned with mercy?

Ans. Mercy is a Divine quality. God is merciful and forgives his creatures, if they commit some sin. King’s or man’s justice can be rash and imperfect. If a king shows mercy like that of a God, he becomes like God himself. So, justice should be seasoned with mercy.

 

About the Poet – William Shakespeare

• William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist.

• He wrote 37 plays and 156 sonnets.

• “The Quality of Mercy” is an extract from Shakespeare’s famous comedy, The Merchant of Venice (1598).

 

Poem

 

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 4

 

‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown:

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway: 10

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice. 14

 

Glossary

• Strained – Drawn by force

• Droppeth – Falls

• Beneath – Below

• Twice blest – A double blessing

• Mightiest – The most powerful

• Becomes – Add to the glory

• Sceptred – Symbol of earthly power of kings

• Enthroned – Seated

• Attribute to – Special quality

• Seasons – Softens

 

•Reference to the context: - These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The Quality of Mercy’ written by Shakespeare. In these lines the poet tells about the power of mercy.

Explanation (L1 to L4)

• In these particular lines, the poet says that mercy is a natural and divine quality of human heart. It cannot be shown under any force or compulsion. It is just like gentle rain that falls. Like falling of rain it has fine and soothing effect. Mercy is a double blessing. The person, who shows mercy is blessed by God and who receives it, is automatically blessed, as he or she is relieved of his or her pain.

Explanation (L5 to L10)

• In these particular lines, the poet tells that the most powerful people are capable of showing mercy to the greatest possible extent. It is the greatest quality in the hearts of the most powerful kings. It appears more glorious in a king sitting on his thrown than his crown made of gold. King’s rod of authority (spectre) is the symbol of his wordly power. It appears fear in the hearts of his people. But mercy is far better and higher than the rod of his authority.

 

Explanation (L11 to L14)

• In these lines, the poet says that mercy lives in the hearts of kings. It adorns the powerful men the most. Actually, mercy is the Divine quality. Human justice can be imperfect. The justice of God is perfect and God is merciful. If a king delivers proper justice and seasons it with mercy, he becomes like God. So, mercy must be shown, when justice is given.

 

Summary/Development of thought

• The poem ‘The Quality of Mercy’ is an extract from Shakespeare well-known ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Actually, it is an appeal for mercy made by Portia, the heroine of the play, to the cruel Jew, Shylock, in the trial scene of the play. The poet, through Portia, says that Mercy is a divine quality, which comes naturally from the heart of a king and merciful person. It comes from the heart as spontaneously as the rain falls naturally from the heaven. It does not spring in one’s heart under any compulsion. No one can be forced to show mercy. Mercy is a double blessing. God blesses the person who shows mercy and the person who receives the benefits of mercy is relieved of his pain or misery in this world and thus he is blessed. Mercy is a special quality of God Himself. Mercy is the most powerful thing in the heart of very powerful kings. The king’s rod of authority (Sceptred Sway) is the symbol of his worldly power, which generates fear in the hearts of his subjects. But, mercy is far higher than the rule of the rod. This quality can win the hearts of his subjects. A king, who seasons his justice with mercy, becomes like God. Wordly Power becomes divine, when mercy is shown, while delivering justice.

Central idea of the poem

• The poem says that mercy is a natural and divine quality in man’s heart. It comes in man’s heart automatically. No effort is made to create mercy in one’s heart. It comes in the heart as naturally as the rain falls from heaven. It cannot be forced. It is a double blessing. It blesses both the giver as well as the taker. God blesses the person, who shows mercy and the taker is blessed automatically, because he is relieved of his pain and misery. Mercy is a divine quality. God shows mercy even while he punishes sinners. A king, who shows mercy, while delivering justice, becomes like God. The rod of authority in king’s hand can only create fear in the hearts of his subjects. But the justice becomes Divine, when mercy is added to it. In this way, mercy is more powerful than king’s rod of authority