7

Mercy -William Shakespeare William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is unquestionably the greatest poetic dramatist of Europe. As a product of the European Renaissance, he brought the classical humanistic tradition to bear on his works. His works include 37 major plays, 154 sonnets and other poems. It is a tribute to his genius that he continues to be acclaimed universally for his knowledge of the human heart and understanding of human psychology.

This poem, entitled Mercy, is an extract from Act IV, Scene I of The Merchant of Venice, a famous Shakespearean comedy. In these lines, Portia, the protagonist of the play pleads with Shylock the value of mercy. As a human virtue, mercy not only transcends the worldly power, but also becomes divine grace when combined with justice. It glorifies the giver and the taker alike. Rendered in blank verse, this poem is a striking example of the Renaissance ethos. It puts up a cogent plea for liberal human values.

The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blestIt blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes The throned monarch better than his crown. His scepter 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; It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, It is an attribute to God himself. And earthly power then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice…

Renaissance / rI'neIsns / protagonist / prJ't&gJnIst /

cogent / 'kJUdZJnt / transcends / tr&n'sends /

45

Glossary Renaissance

-

strained droppeth blesseth throned scepter temporal blest attribute awe doth majesty sway likest enthroned seasons

-

rebirth; the period in European civilization following the Middle Ages th th (14 -16 century AD), marked by a surge of interest in classical tradition of belief, aimed at human happiness learning and humanistic values forced drops blesses occupying the ruling seat an ornamental staff held as an emblem of authority worldly blessed quality fear does supreme authority power like invested with sovereign power or authority tempers

Exercises Word Power (A)

Choose the words from the text, which are opposite in meaning to the words given here: cruelty, above, spiritual, injustice, courage, hell, curse

(B)

Mark the use of the word, enthroned. It is a verb-form, derived from the noun, throne, using the prefix, en- . Make a list of prefixes/suffixes and give verb forms of the following nouns: power, place, heart, justice, force, quality

(C)

In the 7 line, show has been used as a verb. It can also be used as a noun: The show passed off peacefully. Make sentences using the following words as noun and verb: season, attribute, sway, force, drop, crown

(D)

Mark the use of the word, the mightiest. It is an adjective in the superlative degree. The other two forms in the positive and comparative degrees are: mighty, mightier. Give the forms of the following adjectives in the comparative and superlative

th

46

degrees. gentle, good, unlikely, quick, light, bad, far (E)

Match the words in column A with those in column B. Column A Renaissance temporal majesty attribute sway awe

(F)

Column B worldly supreme authority quality power fear rebirth

Match words with their meanings, and use them in sentences of your own to bring out the difference in their meanings. mercy the feeling of being sorry for somebody compassion used to show that you are disappointed about something pity the ability to understand another person's feelings sympathy a kind or forgiving attitude towards somebody empathy the aim of giving money, food, help, etc. charity a strong feeling of sympathy for people

For example, (i)

Mercy (a kind or forgiving attitude towards somebody): The criminal pleaded for mercy from the judge.

Comprehension (A) (i) 'But mercy is above this sceptred sway'. Explain. (ii)

Why does the poet believe that 'earthly power then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice…'?

(iii)

His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, (a) What is an attribute to awe and majesty? (b) What does show the force of temporal power?

(iv)

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blestIt blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. (a) What is mercy compared above lines? (b) How is mercy twice-blessed?

(B)

Write answer to the following question in two or three sentences each: (i) What is the quality of mercy? (ii) What makes mercy twice-blessed? 47

(iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (C)

What does qualify a monarch more-mercy or throne? Why? What does the scepter show? What is an attribute of God himself? What happens when mercy is tempered with justice?

Write answer to the following question in about 150 words. (i) How does mercy bless the giver and the taker alike? (ii) Give the central idea of the poem.

Poetic Devices Notice the comparison of mercy with rain. It is a poetic device, called simile. A simile is a comparison of two unlike things, using 'like' or 'as'. Another important device is metaphor. The comparison is hidden in metaphor whereas it is obvious in simile. For example, (a) (i) The colonel roars like a lion. (simile) (ii) The colonel is a lion. (metaphor) (b) (i) He is cunning as a fox. (simile) (ii) He is a fox. (metaphor) (c) (i) My friend is slow as a snail. (simile) (ii) My friend is a snail. (metaphor) (A)

Frame three such pairs of sentences, showing the difference between simile and metaphor.

(B)

Notice the repetition of the same sound in the 10th line, 'sceptred sway'. This is an example of alliteration. Alliteration is a figure of speech, in which the same sound or letter is repeated at the beginning of words that are close together. For example, Three thousands did I see at a glance! (sound't') Every time she slide or sprang. (sound 's')

(C)

Observe the syllable, foot, metre and rhyme-scheme of each line. Syllable-It is the shortest segment of speech with a vowel. The consonant sounds may occur either before or after the vowel. For example, I, Out, Too, The, Qua-li-ty Foot-It is the smallest unit of metrical composition. It consists of syllables (short and/or long / ) and make up the metre of a poetic line. For example, - / -/ - / - / - / The qua-li-ty /of mer/-cy is/ not strained

48

The above line has five feet of two syllables each, the short followed by the long. This kind of foot is called Iambic. Metre- Metre consists of feet (or beats in music), adding rhythm to a poetic line. For example, the above line has five feet in iambus .Therefore, it is in iambic pentameter, very popular with the poets. Rhyme-scheme- It is an arrangement of rhyme from the last syllable of each line, denoted by letters in lowercase(abcd…).When a rhyme is repeated, the pattern becomes distinct. This 14-line poem is unrhymed verse in iambic pentameter, which is commonly called blank verse. Shakespeare has used this poetic form skillfully in his dramas because it is closest to the natural rhythms of English speech, and can be adapted to various levels of discourse.

Speaking Activity (A)

Read aloud parts of the poem in groups, observing the stress-pattern. (Consult an English Pronunciation Dictionary)

(B)

Under the Indian law, the President of India can show mercy and commute the death sentence to life imprisonment. Do you think this provision should be continued? Give your arguments (for, or against).

Writing Skills (A)

Develop a story on the moral of mercy with the help of the following outlines: there lived a saint-visitor to the river- a scorpion bit him-he was asked to kill it-the saint refused-wisdom prevailed……

(B)

Write a letter to your friend, narrating one such event when your act of mercy was highly appreciated.

Think it over (A) (B)

Mercy ennobles mankind. Think of other values which contribute to the development of human personality. Every religion insists on showing mercy to fellow creatures. Think of the other noble values fostered by religions.

Things to do (A)

Prepare a list of William Shakespeare's comedies.

(B)

Have you read any other 14-line poem in a rhyme-scheme? It is known as sonnet. Shakespeare has written 154 sonnets in all, based on his own life. Read some of the 49

sonnets and examine their rhyme-scheme. (C)

Read the following extract from Shakespeare's play, Hamlet and underline the lines that are well-known and oft-quoted. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act: Be thou familiar; but by no means vulgar: The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul, with hoops of steel: But do not dull my palm, with entertainment Of each unhatch'd, unfledg'd, comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thine ear; but few thy voice: Take each man's censure: but reserve thy judgment: Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy; But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous chief in that, Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend: And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all; to thine ownself be true: And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

(D)

Look for such poetic lines in Shakespeare's other plays, which have become part of the common memory. What do you understand by these lines explain in two to three sentences. (a) Give every man thine ear; but few they voice (b) Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy (c) Apparel off proclaims the man (d) neither a borrower nor a lender be

50