Mercy | Poem 6 | English 8th | Tulip Series | (William Shakespeare)

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Mercy | Poem 6 | English 8th | Tulip Series |
(William Shakespeare)

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 heart of kings,

It is an attribute to God Himself,

And earthly power doth then show like God's

When mercy seasons justice.

(William Shakespeare)

 

Short Summary

"Mercy" by William Shakespeare is a sonnet that explores the concept of mercy and forgiveness. The speaker begins by acknowledging the virtue of mercy, describing it as a quality that is twice blessed: it blesses both the one who gives it and the one who receives it. The speaker then contrasts mercy with other qualities, such as the sceptre (a symbol of power) and the crown (a symbol of authority), suggesting that mercy is even more powerful and noble. The poem concludes with the speaker expressing the hope that they will receive mercy from others, just as they have shown mercy in the past. Overall, "Mercy" emphasizes the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and empathy in human relationships.

THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

Q1. Where does the quality of the mercy come from? Who are blessed by it?

Ans. The quality of the mercy come from heaven and takes a place in the heart of that person who deserves it. It is blessed on the people who give it and on those who take it.

Q2. How is mercy better than the crown of the king?

Ans. Mercy is better than the crown of the king because the king is crowned only on earth to show his mighty power but the mercy takes place in the heart of kings and comes from heaven with the mightiest power.

Q3. What does the sceptre stand for? How does it affect the kings?

Ans. “Sceptre” stands for royal wand or authority used by kings to show their earthly power while punishing the culprits. It makes the king proud or dreadful on earth and keeps them away from the mercy.

Q4. When does the earthly power look like God’s power?

Ans. When the mercy is enthroned in the hearts of kings while punishing the culprits using sceptre, then the earthly power looks like God’s power.

Q5. How is mercy alone the “sceptred sway”?

Ans. Mercy comes from heaven and when it lies in the heart of kings, it is ‘sceptred sway’ above because God likes mercy than punishment.

Q6. What happens when mercy seasons justice?

Ans. When mercy seasons justice then the earthly power looks like God’s itself because justice is the symbol of mercy and mercy brings happiness.

LANGUAGE WORK

a) Find out the similes and/or metaphors in the poem.

Ans. Some of them found in the poem are; gentle rain, sceptre, doth earthly power.

b) Find out poetical words in the poem and also write their names;

Ans. Strain’d               means- forced

Droppeth                     means- drops descend

Tis                               means- this

Blesseth                       means- blesses or bless