麻豆社

Daljit Nagra marks birth and death of William Shakespeare (April 23rd 1564 - April 23rd 1616) as he revisits the 麻豆社's poetry archive to select Adventures in Poetry - "The quality of mercy is not strain'd".

Peggy Reynolds explores the background, effect and lasting appeal of the well-loved poem:- 鈥淭he quality of mercy is not strain'd鈥� from The Merchant of Venice.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd鈥� is delivered by Portia in Shakespeare鈥檚 play as she confronts Shylock in court 鈥� and its moving plea for mercy and forgiveness is followed by a distinctly unmerciful legal demolition of Shylock鈥檚 claim to a pound of flesh from Antonio in forfeit of his debt.

Peggy explores the legal, theological and linguistic complexities of the piece with:

* The Lord Chief Justice, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
* Lisa Jardine
* Rabbi Julia Neuberger
* Actress Janet Suzman who talks about her approach to the speech.

Producer: Sara Davies

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in 2007.

**** And Daljit reads from his Poetry Extra Book of the Month: The House of Broken Things by Kim Moore