(i) In the court of Duke, Antonio and Shylock are asked to appear before her. Portia tells Shylock that although he has brought a very strange suit, get the suit is perfectly in accord with the laws of Venice and she tells Antonio also that he is in danger of his life. Then she appeals to Shylock to be merciful, but Shylock refuses to show mercy for Antonio and remains firm on his legal bond signed by Antonio. Hence Portia tries to persuade him by explaining the moral virtue of mercy.
(ii) While moralising the virtue of mercy before Shylock, Porita says that mercy is the greatest quality in the greatest of men. The person who are powerful and resourceful have more opportunities and means to show mercy. It is proportionate to a man’s power. She further adds that it suits the king better than his crown because his sceptre shows his temporal power which is worldly and superficial and such an authority inspires fear of the glory and power of the kings. But the mercy in a king gives him more permanent power and enables him to rule over the hearts of his subjects.
(iii) Earlier the Duke had tried his best to convince Shylock to show mercy for Antonio and not to adopt cruel attitude towards Antonio. Bpt, for Shylock this appeal proved futile. He tells the Duke that he has already informed him qhqut his intentions. He says that he has taken an oath to extract the penalty incurred by the forfeiture of the bond and he prefers dead flesh to three thousand ducats.
(iv) Portia is disguised as a lawyer and tries to persuade Shylock, the quality of mercy. She tells him that mercy inspires the feeling of love and reverence. According to her if justice is administered with mercy, it is moderated and tempered. Then justice imparted becomes less cruel. When a king shows not only justice but also mercy, he appears to be God himself.
(v) When Shylock refuses to show mercy for Antonio, Portia admits the legality of his claim and Shylock’s happiness soars.Them Portia asks Shylock to arrange a surgeon at hand to save Antonio from bleeding to death. At this Shylock reminds her that no such condition is stipulated in his bond. Portia now turns this insistence against him and tells him that as per the bond he can only have a pound of flesh from Antonio’s chest, but no single drop of blood should fall on the ground. Thus Shylock is entrapped in his own net. Now he shows his willingness to accept three times of money, but he is deprived of it and also loses his property. In this way, she succeeds to make Antonio free from the cruel trap of Shylock.
