1564-1616

This soliloquy is spoken by Portia in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.  It takes place in Act 4, Scene 1, in a Venetian Court of Justice. The speech is regarded as one of the great speeches in Shakespeare, and it is an example of the esteem Shakespeare held for those who showed mercy.

Mercy and forgiveness are enduring themes that pervade Shakespeare's works. It is said that Shakespeare held great esteem for those who showed mercy as expressed in his poetry. Shakespeare presented mercy as a quality most valuable to the most powerful, strongest and highest people in society.

Shakespeare is one of the oldest poets I've included at this time: April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616.

---

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/addison-k-witt/support