The Merchant of Venice

PORTIA

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 becomesThe 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 usShould see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

 Portia uses two approaches to try to persuade in this speech, firstly he uses religion then the last two lines he uses the idea if he goes through with a pound of flesh he will go to jail

Find and highlight these techniques in the speech:
metaphor
alliteration
repetition
Similie
Answer the following questions using quotes where applicable:

How does Portia describe mercy? How important and powerful is it?

"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:"

Portia descirbes mercy as a gift that comes from heaven and also says people who give and take mercy are also blessed or praised.

What can one achieve through mercy?

Portia believes that through mercy people see salvation and he also says people always pray for mercy why once should'nt we give it ourselves.

How is religion part of this speech? (You need to do some thinking on this one.)

"Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy." In this speech Portia metepohrically describes mercy as being a trait that kings deread of and even described as an earthly power which God also posses. This speech is very religious becuase it gives examples of mercy being a way to salvation and a way of proper justice