Blog prompt 5

1) Is there true justice?

The answer to this question depends on one's perspective of true justice. According to dictionary definitions, justice is the legal treatment used to punish people who have committed crimes. However, justice has also been commonly used in referring to the fair treatment of people. If justice is taken as the legal system used to punish, I do not feel there is true justice. Legal systems and the laws which comprise of it are created by humans, and as it is commonly said, it is human to err. As these laws are made by humans, it is unsafe to say that it is absolutely fair to others. Parallel to that thought is the fact that humans also have no right to judge what true justice is. Therefore, I can conclude that true justice cannot be judged by Man.

2) Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?

There is true mercy as expounded by Portia. However, after Shylock refuses the mercy, she becomes strict and refuses to spare him another chance.At first, she gives him three chances to mete out mercy to Antonio, which he refuses. Although there was no way Shylock could have foreseen that Portia was going to trap him with her play of words, he should have meted out mercy when given the chance. As others say, do unto others what you want others to do unto you, if you are merciful, you will be repaid for your mercy one day. In my perspective, true mercy was meted out, as expounded by Portia.

3) Justice and law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.

It is true that justice and law can be manipulated. The only question is only what kind of people can do that. Authority is an obvious quality needed to do so. One has to attain a certain level of authority, such as a lawyer, to be able to even speak out for or against the law. Secondly, one must have intelligence and wit to be able to manipulate justice and law to suit him or herself.If one does not have that quality, and tries to twist the laws around at random, he may find them turning against him. Lastly, the person must understand the convict or prosecutor he is dealing with. If the convict or prosecutor's background is not understood, they may not fall for any trap the person sets.