Question

Line by line explanation of the poem mercy by Shakespeare

Answer 1

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest:

Explanation

Here Shakespeare describes the quality of mercy through Portia, she says that mercy is the quality of human heart, its come out naturally from heart as the gentle rain falls from the sky upon the earth, mo body can force it, mercy is like happiness, it gives pleasure both who shows it and one who receives it, who shows mercy God shows mercy on him.

it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

Explanation

she says that powerful person has great power, but mercy is strongest quality, when a king sits on his throne with his crown on his head, his crown and throne gives him more power and make him stronger and greater and who have rod in his hand that shows him that he has great authority on this earth people fear from him but the power of mercy is stronger and greater than power of a king.

But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

 But the quality of mercy is bigger than the power of king's rod and his authority
it stays in the heart of the kings, it is the quality of God, and when a king gives justice with mercy his power appears as the power of God himself