Mercy

So, my 10th graders right now are studying Julius Caesar and today we read Act III, scene ii... you know, the speeches.

Before we read Antony's speech, I told them it is (IMO) the second-best speech in all of Shakespeare's work. This, of course, got me thinking about the best speech in all of Shakespeare, which, of course, led me to go look it up again. There is a great debate about the racial implications of The Merchant of Venice, but let's set that aside for now, and instead focus on Portia's main theme: Mercy

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:
'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;
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. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy...
(The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene i)

I LOVE this speech. Mercy is more powerful than justice. Is this not the essence of Christianity? We make mistakes, which disqualifies us from returning to God's presence without atonement. But, rather than atone for ourselves, which we cannot do, Christ atoned for us. He didn't have to, but he did. Justice demands payment, mercy allows him to make the payment for us.

Amazing.