Justice and Mercy

This summer I enrolled in a delightful class called Law and Literature. We read novels and classic plays that dealt with issues of the law. We then put one of the characters on mock trial and imagined they were being tried now for their ancient crimes. It was a good time and the jury debates were quite stimulating.

For my final paper I wrote about Justice and Mercy in the law. I took two of Shakespeare's "Legal" plays, "Measure for Measure" and "A Merchant of Venice" and I compared some of Shakespeare's language to the Christian scriptures. (As a side note, these plays contain some truly beautiful passages and if you haven't read them recently or at all, I highly recommend).

God, as portrayed in the Bible, is fully just and perfect in mercy. One of the many paradoxes (paradoxi?) of the great I AM. Justice and mercy often clash heads in their definitions. And then there are times when what is just IS what is merciful and vice versa.

Shakespeare's characters grapple with where mercy belongs in a justice system. In writing my paper, I realized that I have an emotional connection to Justice that I do not feel toward Mercy. Justice is my firstborn and Mercy is the stepchild I know I need to love but tend not to reach for reflexively.

I am trying to investigate the reason for this. In part I think it is the nature of the emotions associated with the two. When something is unjust, I can feel my cheeks burn, my temperature rise, my stomach tighten. I want to pound a table with my fist. When mercy is beautifully exemplified I am relieved. But the reaction is more of a release and less of a motivator. Does that make sense? I also think it is my tendency toward pride that makes me nestle closer to justice than mercy. Justice is an easier friend to keep company with. Mercy makes me bite my tongue and do things that drive against my all-important feelings. If I wanted to make this blog a lot longer I could also talk about mercy and grace, and how I have a difficult time connecting emotionally with God's grace and God's mercy. Maybe this means I have not spent enough time wrestling with God's justice, particularly as it applies to me.

I know that this is not true of everyone. I know there are people for whom mercy is closer than a brother. I want to find a balance, in law, in my life, in my feeble understanding of my God.

Any thoughts?

I'll close with a few of my favorites from the Bard.

“No ceremony that to great ones ‘longs,

Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword,

The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe,

Become them with one half so good a grace

As mercy does.” - Isabella, Measure for Measure (Act 2, Scene 2)

“I show it [pity] most of all when I show justice

For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismiss’d offense would after gall,

And do him right that, answering one foul wrong,

Lives not to act another.” - Angelo, Measure for Measure (Act 2, Scene 2)

"The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath.
It is twice blessed.
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
It is mightiest in the mightiest,
It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
An attribute to awe and majesty.
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself.
And earthly power dost then become likest God's,
Where mercy seasons justice." Portia, Merchant of Venice, (Act 4 Scene 1)