Penny:

You make a good point, but it's not countering the point I'm making. My first statement was regarding the European contingent by-and-large going with a supposition that the freed man was a fall-guy, notwithstanding his ten years internment for the crime. It reeks of turn-around. "We've got the guy in jail. We're letting him out? Oh, well he was a fall-guy anyway!" There should either be outrage over false imprisonment, or outrage over the release of the perpetrater of a horrendous crime. Instead there's a kind of pall of 'what does one expect'. That's the difference I perceive between the Eastern side and the Wester side.

You didn't start out quoting the Bible. You quoted Shakespeare minus the context. I added more Shakespeare PLUS context.

I don't find that the NT corrects or eliminates the OT and one can find references to vengeance within, although it is quite true that on more than one occasion, we are told that "vengeance is MINE" saith the Lord, indicating 'MINE and not YOURS' and this is wisdom.

On the other hand, there is more than vengeance at stake here. The Good Book also tells us that "blood cries out".

I also think if we go back to the idea that the man was convicted and is guilty, releasing him enables him to harm again, to give aid and comfort to our collective enemies, to give aid comfort and INFORMATION to others who would harm us. So if there is vengeance involved, it is not the thing entirely.

Returning to Portia's mercy solo, I find it hypocritical, considering what is about to happen to Shylock. This is no fault with Shakespeare, it is exactly what Shakespeare is master of, sweet words and foul deeds.

The play is about vengeance, racism, and Jew-baiting. Fun for the whole family, and popular among the entire range of watchers. I saw it in London with Lawrence Olivier playing the title role. At the end a violin played "Kaddish". For Shylock the abandonment of his religion was death.