An Actor's Guide to "The quality of mercy is not strained” | Portia - The Merchant of Venice

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Hey actor! If you’re still hunting for the perfect fit monologue, I’ve put together a collection of my favourite Shakespeare monologues sorted by casting type and general vibe. Makes it easy to pick one you love and another one to contrast. You can find it here: shakespearewithsarah.com/shakespeare-collection/

[@annelbourne5563]

Thank you. I think it is useful to talk about what has gone before this speech. It happens shortly after Portia's entrance in the scene and the few lines of dialogue before it are useful in setting up how to begin the speech. Also it reminds me of Mark Antonys speech in that the speaker knows where they are taking the the other characters, and in Portias mercy speech I don't think she is trying to persuade Shylock, but rather to reassure him that he is within his rights. The bit about not spilling blood will be his undoing and she knows it from the start. Also its tricky because much of the play is very light so it could be argued that she is playing with him quite mercilessly!

[@allthatyousee18]

I really enjoyed hearing your explanation of this speech. I saw your performance of this speech in the video on the Guardian's channel. The line "becomes the throned monarch better than his crown" jumped out at me. I interpreted this line as something like "becomes him *even better* than his crown". (Eg, the crown is a symbol of divine right, but the quality of mercy is even more valuable.) Interesting to hear your interpretation (symbols are not important, it's qualities like mercy that are all-important). I'm not an actor or dramatist, only someone interested in language and the written word. It's fascinating for me to peel back the layers in Shakespeare's work.

[@allthatyousee18]

That line may have been a deliberate ambiguity on Shakespeare's part. Knowing that Queen Elizabeth may well have ended up hearing his lines, who was he, a mere playwright, to tell monarchs what they should or should not do? The line can be read as flattering "kings are great with their crowns, but being merciful makes them better" -- or critical "having a crown doesn't make you special, it's having qualities like mercy that count".

[@allthatyousee18]

... I've embarrassed myself as the Guardian version was a different actress 😅 d'oh

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Oh I was going to say - I don't remember being on the Guardian's channel! You're right though about the line "becomes the throned monarch better than his crown", that is what it means. I don't think I was particularly eloquent in explaining this. This is one of my very early videos 😂

[@allthatyousee18]

@@ShakespearewithSarah don't worry, your explanation was great 😃 keep up the good work!

[@MegaJimbee]

Love this explanation. BTW "posh" is a UK expression. Most Americans have no idea what she means by that.

[@arianasophia7630]

can you do her other monologue "You see me Lord Bassanio where I stand"?

[@stutiswar3623]

Very nicely explained👍👍👍

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@ramyas7215]

Thanks a lot❤

[@emonooor]

It's really nice! Thank you🦋

[@Theboywiththedrone]

Big like dear friend for your work 👍👍👍🙋+

[@maegand4153]

This was actually really helpful thanks :)

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Oh good... this was one of my early videos, I might redo it soon to make it a bit better presented 😂

[@clairepente9051]

Hi Sarah. My name is Claire and I'm auditioning for "Midsummer Nights Dream". Do you have any monouluges that you would recommend? Thank you

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

I have a new collection! I've sorted them into categories of casting type and 'general vibe' so it's easier to choose one that you're excited about. shakespearemasteryacademy.com/shakespeare-monologues-for-young-actors/

[@weepinbel]

You wouldn't recommend this monologue for auditioning to drama school?

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Hmm. It’s not too bad as long as you concentrate on showing nuance within it (showing how she feels about Shylock throughout, for example) AND you need to pair it with another monologue that shows a bit more emotional intensity. Mostly this one can come across a bit dull when it’s not done well.