The theme of justice recurs throughout The Merchant of Venice. Shylock declares, “I stand for judgment.” He argues that he does no wrong. Just as the Christians in Venice own slaves, Shylock claims to own Antonio through the bond that they signed. Antonio agreed to give up a pound of flesh if he could not repay his debt to Shylock on time, which he cannot. Shylock argues for precise justice, pointing out the bond does not allow any doctors or reprieve.
Perhaps because Shylock is Jewish, Shakespeare writes Shylock as having an Old Testament eye-for-an-eye mentality. In Act III, Scene 1, Shylock points out the similarities between Christians and Jews in his argument as to why he should be able to exact vengeance on Antonio: “If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge.”
Portia describes the superiority of mercy, but ultimately succeeds in simultaneously fulfilling the law and saving Antonio. She points out the bond allows for exactly a pound of flesh: “Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more / But just a pound of flesh.” She refuses to let Shylock renege on the deal that he insisted on upholding: “as thou urgest justice, be assured / Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.” Moreover, Shylock risks losing his estate and his life due to a conspiracy to murder a Christian.
Ostensibly, mercy wins. Antonio and the Duke forgive Shylock, “That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,” suggesting that they hold to the New Testament’s ideal of loving one’s enemies. Portia says mercy is more powerful than any mortal form of control and that “in the course of justice, none of us / Should see salvation.”
Shylock loses half of his money, must give the other half to his daughter and her Christian husband, and is forced to convert to Christianity. The citizens of Venice see this as a blending of justice and mercy, but it shows the limits and hypocrisy of mercy. The law refuses to show mercy to Antonio and simply urges Shylock to be merciful. The state saves Antonio, but the slaves of Venice receive no such release. Also, the Christians and Jews are treated unequally in the name of mercy: Shylock is considered an alien; Antonio, a citizen. Antonio sees Christianity as a blessing, so Shylock’s forced conversion is merciful in Antonio’s eyes. On the other hand, we see Shylock stripped of his identity, an act that seems neither merciful nor just.