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This 3 page paper considers the meaning of justice and mercy within the context of the classic novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KV32_HVjstmcy.rtf
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the two concepts in relation to John Steinbecks novella Of Mice and Men. Discussion Justice and mercy and the way they interact have been common themes in literature for centuries.
Shakespeare understood this; his entire play The Merchant of Venice turns on this theme. If Shylock is to receive justice, then he must take a pound of Antonios flesh, killing
him in the process. But justice in this case is monstrous and perverted, so Portia makes a plea for mercy instead, in one of the most famous speeches in Shakespeare:
"The quality of mercy is not strained / It droppeth as the gentle rain from haven / Upon the place beneath" (IV.i.184-186). But Shylock refuses this plea for mercy, saying
instead "I crave the law" (IV.i.206). Portia responds that "Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirst" (IV.i.316), and proceeds to tell Shylock that the law allows him his grotesque
penalty, but he must cut off exactly a pound of flesh, not one bit more or less. Further, since blood was not mentioned in the bond, he cannot spill one
drop; if he misses the pound by any amount or spills any blood at all, he will lose his legal case and all his goods will be forfeit as well.
Having already said in court that he wants only his "bond," Portia has him on the ropes when he asks for payment in money instead of flesh: "He hath refusd
it in the open court; / He shall have merely justice and his bond" (IV.i.338-339). Shylock is broken, all his goods are forfeit and he is left penniless-all because he
demanded justice, and received it. Portia understood, as he did not, that justice without mercy is no justice at all. Steinbeck knew this too, when he created the characters of
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