Antonio and Bassanio are friends
Bassanio wants to get married to Portia who is an intelligent, beautiful and rich woman.
He needs 3000 ducats for the wedding. He asks his rich friend Antonio to help him.
Antonio helps him by borrowing 3000 ducats from Shylock.
Shylock is a clever Jewish money lender who signs a strange bond with Antonio.
Bassanio marries Portia and Antonio is imprisoned because he didn’t repay Shylock.
Portia arrives in Venice dressed as a lawyer to save Antonio.
Shylock is ready to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.
She delivers the famous speech ‘Quality of Mercy’ asking Shylock to show some kindness.
The quality of mercy is not something difficult to show.
It drops onto the world as the gentle rain does – from heaven.
It is doubly blessed. It blesses both the giver and the receiver.
It is most powerful when granted by those who hold power over others.
It is more important to a King than his earthly power.
It is present in the hearts of kings. It is a quality of God.
Human beings resemble God’s power when mercy controls justice.
Shylock is not shaken by this speech.
Portia wins the case by asking Shylock to cut only pound of flesh without dropping a single drop of blood.
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