Essay on Justice vs. Morality in Measure for Measure and Merchant of Ve

Justice vs. Morality in survey for Measure and merchandiser of Venice thither are many similarities shared between Shakespeares plays, Measure for Measure, and The Merchant of Venice. The underlying theme of each work is well defined by the phrase Justice without the temperance of mercy, is power misused. I go out support this claim by drawing upon some of the characters and situations that are arranged in each story. In each story a mans career depends on the interpretation, and sanctioning of bonnyice. In the, Merchant of Venice, Antonio (who I believe represents mercy), had slicked a bond with Shylock offering a pound of his public figure for the loan of three thousand ducats. Unfortunately he forfeits this bond, (Merchant III,ii) Sweet Bassanio, my ships devour all miscarried.... my bond to the Jew is forfeit..... Shylock (who to the strict letter of the jurisprudence represents justice), is sour to any type of compassion and desires nothing other than what he feels is justice, (Merchant III,iii) Ill shake off my bond... beware my fangs. The Duke shall grant me justice.... In, Measure for Measure, it is Cladio (representing mercy), whose life hangs in the symmetry of law and morality. Cladio has slept with Julietta out of wedlock, (Measure I,ii) I got possession of Juliettas bed... she is fast my wife... Save that we do the denunciation lack.... For this law-breaking Angelo (who in place of the duke, representing justice), much as Shylock, desires that Cladios declare be carried out exactly as stated by the law, (Measure II,i) Tis angiotensin-converting enzyme thing to be tempted, Escalus Another thing to fall... Sir, he must fall apart. In both cases the guilty parties have committed a crime punishable by death, additionally each man also r... ... of the law, and by not yielding to human decency and compassion, Shylock would have been given his just deserts. The same was true for Angelo who desired Cladios head as the unaltered law re quired. It certainly seems to me, that Mr.. Shakespeare was simply stating that in within the realms of these plays one could easily grade that Justice without the temperance of mercy, is power misused. Works Cited Black, James. The Unfolding of Measure for Measure. Shakespeare Survey 26 (1973) 119-28. Leech, Clifford. The Meaning of Measure for Measure. Shakespeare Survey 3 (1950) 69-71. Shakespeare, William. Measure for Measure. The Arden Shakespeare. Ed. J.W. Lever. capital of the United Kingdom Routledge, 1995. Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. The Riverside Shakespeare. Eds. G. Blakemore Evans and J. J. M. Tobin. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.