What about antonio's mercy?

Answer 1

The whole of "Antonio's mercy" is contained in one small speech in Act IV of The Merchant of Venice. The Duke has just sentenced Shylock to having everything he owns (which includes his sole means of making a living) divided between the State and Antonio. The Duke asks, "What mercy can you render him, Antonio?" to which, after the bloodthirsty Gratiano demands Shylock's death, Antonio replies:

• So please my lord the duke and all the court
  To quit the fine for one half of his goods,
  I am content; so he will let me have
  The other half in use, to render it,
  Upon his death, unto the gentleman
  That lately stole his daughter:
  Two things provided more, that, for this favour,
  He presently become a Christian;
  The other, that he do record a gift,
  Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
  Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

If you read this closely, you will see that what Antonio is proposing is that the State should give up its claim on half of Shylock's goods ("the fine for one half his goods"), and that Antonio should still get his half ("the other half") which he will hold in trust (that's what "in use" means) for Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the guy who eloped with Shylock's daughter Jessica, stealing a large quantity of money and jewellery which they proceeded to blow in riotous living. Shylock breaks down when he hears that Lorenzo has traded the wedding ring Shylock gave to his deceased wife for a monkey. Forcing Shylock to give all his money to this worthless spendthrift goy is an insult. As a further insult, he is to be stripped of his religion and his identity. This is the extent of Antonio's "mercy".