1. Is there true justice? Why?
Personally, I feel that there is no such thing as true justice in this world. The justice that one perceives is different in everyone.
For example, we may say that there is no true justice in the trial scene as Shylock is still a victim of discrimination and abuse by Christians. We may say that the Christians are the 'villians' here and Shylock is just a pitiful Jew who is constantly tormented by society. In modern times, we all try to uphold the view that everyone is equal. That is way we have racial harmony, why racism and discrimination against religions are considered taboo in Singapore. This is why there are human rights organisations fighting against the oppression of groups of people like the African-Americans.
However, during the time of Shakespeare, the persecution of Jews was not a rare sight. Jews are even banned from certain countries of continental Europe like England during the Middle Ages. There were even violence against the Jewish people like massacres, forced conversion. Why? That is because the Christians had the stereotype that all Jews were guilty of killing Jesus. The fact that Shakespeare, through this play has implied that Shylock should be the sympathised with is quite surprising, due to the fact that he would not have met any Jewish person in his life and that he would have been brainwashed by the values of the society then. To the people watching the play then, they would have thought that there absolutely true justice as Shylock is too heartless has been too greedy to get that pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Thus, he needed to be thought a lesson, which is delivered by Portia.
As you can see, Justice can never be defined in black and white. No matter how one objects, one can never explain this grey area in Justice.
For example, we may say that there is no true justice in the trial scene as Shylock is still a victim of discrimination and abuse by Christians. We may say that the Christians are the 'villians' here and Shylock is just a pitiful Jew who is constantly tormented by society. In modern times, we all try to uphold the view that everyone is equal. That is way we have racial harmony, why racism and discrimination against religions are considered taboo in Singapore. This is why there are human rights organisations fighting against the oppression of groups of people like the African-Americans.
However, during the time of Shakespeare, the persecution of Jews was not a rare sight. Jews are even banned from certain countries of continental Europe like England during the Middle Ages. There were even violence against the Jewish people like massacres, forced conversion. Why? That is because the Christians had the stereotype that all Jews were guilty of killing Jesus. The fact that Shakespeare, through this play has implied that Shylock should be the sympathised with is quite surprising, due to the fact that he would not have met any Jewish person in his life and that he would have been brainwashed by the values of the society then. To the people watching the play then, they would have thought that there absolutely true justice as Shylock is too heartless has been too greedy to get that pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Thus, he needed to be thought a lesson, which is delivered by Portia.
As you can see, Justice can never be defined in black and white. No matter how one objects, one can never explain this grey area in Justice.
2. Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?
I believe that this is even true mercy. Yes, it may seem so on the outside, but is merely putting up a facade to hide the fact that she just wants to play the "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth game" with Shylock.
Portia can be seen as being merciful as it is because it can be view that either Shylock loses his fortune, or his life. In this case, Portia chooses to let Shylock live. Thus some would view her as merciful.
However, Portia, in the first place, shouldn't be even tell the court that Shylock is attempting murder on an innocent victim. It is that fact which shows that she able to manipulate and persuade, yet cunning enough to make herself the heroine of the story with a heart of gold.
Therefore, it is hard to say if Portia is being merciful.
I believe that this is even true mercy. Yes, it may seem so on the outside, but is merely putting up a facade to hide the fact that she just wants to play the "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth game" with Shylock.
Portia can be seen as being merciful as it is because it can be view that either Shylock loses his fortune, or his life. In this case, Portia chooses to let Shylock live. Thus some would view her as merciful.
However, Portia, in the first place, shouldn't be even tell the court that Shylock is attempting murder on an innocent victim. It is that fact which shows that she able to manipulate and persuade, yet cunning enough to make herself the heroine of the story with a heart of gold.
Therefore, it is hard to say if Portia is being merciful.
3. Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.
According to the text, Portia is the person in power, with the looks that charm, the intelligence and a fortune left by her father. Portia, during the trial of Antonio, managed to turn the table around during the court, to win a losing battle, and to find a loophole in the deal, thereby accusing Shylock of attempted murder. This is the manipulation of the Justice and the Law of that time.
In real life, one can see that those in power, like presidents, or even celebrities, get away from crimes scot-free. Recent cases would include the Dominique Strass-kahn's involvement with the hotel rape scene, President Bill Clinton's sex scandal, or even sports celebrities' scandals like that case of Tiger Woods and Wayne Rooney. In the past, sometimes even now, the richer people would only have the power and money to hire lawyers. As a result, the poor had no justice and the rich would always be not guilty, unless there is extremely concrete evidence. Besides that, the is Rupert Murdoch's News of the World, where it took messages of dead soldiers and murder victims, with the ability to hide their dirty secrets till recently.
As stated earlier, there is NO true justice. The society is always controlled by those who have the wealth and influence. That is why I aspire to work hard and become influential. That way, I would be able to induce positive values in this degrading society easily. :)
According to the text, Portia is the person in power, with the looks that charm, the intelligence and a fortune left by her father. Portia, during the trial of Antonio, managed to turn the table around during the court, to win a losing battle, and to find a loophole in the deal, thereby accusing Shylock of attempted murder. This is the manipulation of the Justice and the Law of that time.
In real life, one can see that those in power, like presidents, or even celebrities, get away from crimes scot-free. Recent cases would include the Dominique Strass-kahn's involvement with the hotel rape scene, President Bill Clinton's sex scandal, or even sports celebrities' scandals like that case of Tiger Woods and Wayne Rooney. In the past, sometimes even now, the richer people would only have the power and money to hire lawyers. As a result, the poor had no justice and the rich would always be not guilty, unless there is extremely concrete evidence. Besides that, the is Rupert Murdoch's News of the World, where it took messages of dead soldiers and murder victims, with the ability to hide their dirty secrets till recently.
As stated earlier, there is NO true justice. The society is always controlled by those who have the wealth and influence. That is why I aspire to work hard and become influential. That way, I would be able to induce positive values in this degrading society easily. :)
Hey greg! I admire your aspiration to be influential to induce positive values in this degrading society easily. However, the statement you made that "the poor had no justice" may not always be true. Some famous or influential people would get their deserts even though the victim is poor. Like tiger woods, the affair caused him to affect his golf status and he couldn't play well during that period of time. Same goes for footballers like John terry and Wayne rooney
ReplyDeleteHi greg, this is Darrel. I think there is no true mercy when Portia let Shylock lives. Firstly, that pound of flesh rightfully belong to Shylock and the bond was created with the aim of killing Antonio if he could not repay the debt in time. Antonio knows it as well. Therefore, it is not really mercy. Also, by converting Shylock to christianity meant that he loses his dignity and friends and job, which makes it worser than living, therefore there is no true mercy.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you define that Justice is a grey area. I believe that this is true. Justice is always 'Majority Wins'. As long as majority agrees on it, it can be considered justice. However, I disagree that there is true mercy expounded by Portia. This is due to the fact that Portia converted Shylock into christianity. Shylock lost much much more than just 3000 ducats. He lost his dignity, his friends and even his job. For someone who is so money-minded, it will be very torturous to him. I feel that it depends on the perspective of the person in order to determine true mercy
ReplyDelete