Although, other than sympathy, racism is another issue apparent in the scene from the beginning. The duke, who is in pre-trial conversation with Antonio, calls Shylock "...void and empty, From any dram of mercy". Shylock's inhumanity was caused by his religion, and the suggestion throughout the scene is that, if Shylock were Christian, he would be more "human." This idea is continued by Antonio when he begs everyone to stop pleading with Shylock:
I pray you think you question with the Jew.
You may as well go stand upon the beach
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb…
You may as well do anything most hard
As seek to soften that—that which what's harder?—
His Jewish heart.
Shakespeare cleverly uses a metaphor here showing that Antonio portrays Shylock as something less than human because of his "Jewish heart," and also shows him in an animalistic way which is later on extended as Antonio's comparison between Shylock and a wolf: "Thy currish spirit, Govern'd a wolf…for thy desires, Are wolvish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous" which causes dramatic thoughts and images for the audience, images of a bloodthirsty monster that will stop at nothing short of murder. These racial attitudes are relevant to the period the play was written, but would be portrayed differently these days. Racism has become a sensitive issues yet in the Shakespearian times it wouldn’t of been seen as an issue and treating people badly by their religion was normal.
However, in my opinion the character who is most vocal in his racism against Shylock is Gratiano. This is because of his anger and bitterness at Shylock's lack of mercy, Gratiano insults Shylock several times, from "harsh Jew" to "inexecrable dog." He also extends Antonio's comparison between Shylock and a wolf: "Thy currish spirit, Govern'd a wolf…for thy desires, Are wolvish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous" which causes dramatic thoughts and images of the audience, images of a bloodthirsty monster that will stop at nothing short of murder because of his anger and racism, Gratiano is the only person in the courtroom who urges both the duke and Antonio to have Shylock put to death immediately once the scene is resolved.
Likewise to what I mentioned earlier in that the issues brought up in earlier scenes emphasize the points made through previous scenes is completely true because in Act I, scene 3, Shylock has racist opinions as well. We know that from his first entrance into the play, Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian, a point which helps to encourage Shylock to revenge. However, mentioning this in court would not be beneficial to Shylock in his suit, which is the reason that he never expresses his racist opinions. Even so, these opinions matter very much in the scene.
Nevertheless, another theme that dominates Act IV, scene 1 is mercy and justice. Shylock's reason for claiming his pound of flesh is that he demands the justice that should be provided to him through the bond. When the duke asks Shylock how he can ever expect to have mercy if he does not give it, Shylock responds that he does not need mercy because he has justice on his side: "What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?" In this scene, Shylock demonstrates the view that justice and mercy are at odds with each other. For Shylock, having mercy means that he loses out on justice, which he is not willing to do. Dramatic tension is also used when Portia, disguised as a young man, cross-examines Shylock in court. Lulling him into a false sense of security, she allows him to believe she is on his side but when Portia sees that her warning to Shylock is being ignored, she continues to explain justice to everyone in the courtroom, whether or not they agree with it. Portia awards the consequences of the deed to Shylock, despite Bassanio's plea to "do a little wrong" in overturning Venetian law. Portia does not agree to this. However, when Shylock attempts to take his pound of flesh, Portia informs him that the bond makes no condition for blood or for mistakes in measurement. If Shylock takes blood, or either too little or too much flesh, he will die because of the terms of Venetian law. Portia also informs Shylock that he has violated Venetian law by seeking the life of a citizen, and Shylock's life, lands, and goods are now forfeit to the state and to the victim Antonio. This ironic situation occurs because Shylock demands the letter of the law without the mercy that should go with it, and his deeds are now "upon his head," as he wished them to be earlier in the scene.
Although the duke and Antonio can now take revenge for Shylock's cruel attempt to take Antonio's life without giving mercy, the concerns of Christianity calm their actions. Then, hearing Portia's judgment that Shylock's life and goods are at the mercy of the situation, the duke takes a much different approach than Shylock:
That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine
The duke pardons Shylock even though Shylock has not asked for his mercy because he has learned Portia's lesson about the importance of mercy. Antonio, however, does not show mercy to Shylock, but instead to his daughter Jessica and her husband Lorenzo. Instead of keeping his half of Shylock's property, he gives it to Lorenzo. He also asks the court to make Shylock convert to Christianity. Antonio, then, does punish Shylock for his disbelief and hateful actions, but does so in a way that assists Jessica and Lorenzo and furthers the Christian theme of the play.
The merchant Of Venice is one of Shakespeare's best. Yet the dramatic high point of Act IV scene 1 makes it what it is, one of the most memorable of Shakespeare’s work that will never leave you. This is all due to Shakespeare's brilliant writing skills some of which involving the techniques of imagery and dramatic devises but of course most importantly it is all due to the powerful plot which focuses on the feelings of discrimination, righteousness and conflict that not only run a major role in this scene, but in the whole play. Not only run a major role in the Shakespearian time, but in this modern day.
