Google AI Analysis of 'The Merchant of Venice'.

AI Overview

"How shalt thou hope for mercy rendering none?" means "If you do not show mercy to others, how can you expect to receive mercy yourself?". It's a statement about the hypocrisy of asking for forgiveness or kindness when you yourself have not shown it to others, often used to highlight the importance of compassion and understanding.

Where it comes from: This line is from Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice," spoken by Portia, disguised as a lawyer, to Shylock, who is demanding a pound of flesh from Antonio according to a strict legal contract, refusing to show any mercy.

Key points about the phrase:
"Rendering none": This part means "not giving any mercy".
"Hope for mercy": This refers to expecting to be treated with kindness or forgiveness.
Moral message: The line is meant to convey that if you want to be treated with compassion, you need to show compassion to others as well.

CliffsNotes, CliffsNotes | CliffsNotes Study Guides | Book Summaries, Test Preparation & Homework Help | Written by Teachers › literature › act-iv-scene-1 The duke then asks Shylock a question: "How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?" In reply, Shylock cites the mistreatment of many Venetian slaves by the Venetians themselves, justified by the fact that they bought the slaves and can treat them as they please; likewise, the pound of flesh which he has "dearly bought" belongs to him, and he can do with it as he pleases. He therefore demands an immediate judgment confirming this right.

DUKE How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
TRANSLATION:
DUKE How can you hope for mercy if you don't show it yourself? SHYLOCK Why should I worry about mercy when I've done nothing wrong? The Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1 Translation | Shakescleare, by LitCharts

 

“How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring none?”

As I said above is the famous line from the play the Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1. When Bassanio, the Merchant of Venice's friend, offers Shylock many times the amount of money owed to him and Shylock still refuses. And then the Duke of Venice says those famous lines. Lines which echo things like the Golden Rule found in Matthew 7:12 and other places. To which Shylock simply replies, “What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?” meaning he's followed all the rules of court and laws of Venice up to that point. Clearly it is the others in the court who are at fault.

The line how shalt thou hope for mercy is meant only as a plea for mercy and kindness. The Duke has no idea how the trial would end. Maybe even Portia disguised as Balthazar a learned doctor of laws didn't at that point. But that line still foreshadows the end of the courtroom scene in the play, where the tables are turned on Shylock. And he then faces those same people, only this time as the defendant. Because the line how shalt thou hope for mercy rendering none shows expecting mercy at that point is not only selfish and evil. But very hypocritical too.