The Merchant of Venice, dir. Jonathan Miller (1973): The quality of mercy
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Laurence Olivier as Shylock
Joan Plowright (Olivier's real-life wife) as Portia
Jeremy Brett as Bassanio
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'though justice be thy plea, consider this: that in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation...'
Joan Plowright is excellent. Her character in Avalon nailed what my immigrant grandparents were like in a way I could never forget.
Can anyone say what exactly she means when she says "the quality of mercy is not strained".
@BasileJoubin
3 жыл бұрын
Mercy is something that has to be freely given; no one can force someone else to be merciful.
@michelekarinwilliams5699
3 жыл бұрын
Mercy is endless; it has no limits. 'Strained' in t his context means 'limited'. Or you can think of it as a strainer- a strainer exists to limit what goes into the dish. Or, 'strained' in an emotional sense. When one is 'strained' they cannot really give to another. There are no limits, no strains to mercy - it is like the rain and does not. decide to give to one person over another. Mercy must go before justice as without mercy there can be no justice. She's telling him that he should be merciful and that he can be so, because 'the quality of mercy is not strained'
@derekparker2534
2 жыл бұрын
Hello. she means Mercy dropeth from heaven and is complete and pure with no constraints and is without limitation or boundary... It is endless. Not like how human beings often put upon too many things on this gods earth 🙏🌈🌏
@mourningwarbler
Жыл бұрын
I did not like this play when we read it in junior high; it seemed anti-Semitic. And the Jews in Venice were treated rudely, if there is truth to the script. But then consider that the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee; he was of the Kingdom of Judah; he was a Benjaminite; I think he loved justice and God. When he had his "Damascus Road Experience," Paul was confronted and heart-broken with his error: he had broken the intent of the law with his zeal to correct and vanquish the Christians. I'm not doing this complete "justice" at all as I try to explain this. But justice is a balance of mercy & truth, the intent of the law & the letter of the law. Modern courts don't operate that way. They are about process & salaries & benefits. Probably it's not the judges' fault. They were born & educated into a system. We find that few lawyers have an inclination to think or argue forensically. We met a lot of kids who were thinkers at NCFCA debate tournaments. Must be more out there!
@davidlucey1311
Ай бұрын
Ironic because in Shakespeare’s time the law was absolutely without mercy.
1:00 "The quality . . ."
1:01
@nicolejanelumaque8163
3 жыл бұрын
Hoiiii jasten
Horrible, everything in the same tone, this speach has a lot of different intentions and textures. It shouldnt be hammered or be said like someone is punishing you
@sw9618
2 жыл бұрын
blame the director not Joan Plowright, who is brilliant
@AGMundy
Жыл бұрын
I disagree. I heard inflection and meaning. You may not have liked the interpretation but I find nothing to object to.
@georgeiii2998
Жыл бұрын
Yes, it should be said softly from Portia. This version is too thin-lipped and hard-lined.