Mercy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Mercy (disambiguation).
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French merci, from Medieval Latin merced-, merces, from Latin, price paid, wages, from merc-, merx merchandise) can refer both to compassionate behaviour on the part of those in power (e.g. mercy shown by a judge toward a convict) or on the part of a humanitarian third party (e.g. a mission of mercy aiming to treat war victims). Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or compassion. One of the basic virtues of chivalry and Christian ethics, it is also related to concepts of justice and morality in behaviour between people. In India, compassion is known as karuna.
In a legal sense, a defendant having been found guilty of a capital crime may ask for clemency from being executed. (A famous literary example is from The Merchant of Venice when Portia asks Shylock to show mercy. The quality of mercy is not strained, she tells him.)
The reverse situation applies in the case of euthanasia (called mercy killing by its proponents).
A number of organisations (e.g. the Mercy Corps, the Sisters of Mercy and the Temple of Mercy and Charity) use the word 'mercy' in their name to describe their work.
One of the most widely quoted passages in English Literature is Portia's soliloquy from William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
Mercy is also a popular children's game of strength. Two opponents face each other and grab their opponents hand. Opponent #1 right hand to opponent #2 left hand, opponent #1 left hand to opponent #2 right hand, interlocking fingers. On the word "go", each opponent attempts to bend their opponents hands back, inflicting pain on their opponent as the ligaments and tendons stretch in the wrist. When the opponent can no longer stand the pain, or reverse the situation by overpowering his opponent and bending back their wrists, he cries out "mercy" and is then defeated. The opponents then disengage hands and match is completed. Cheating involves any other activity during the match that inflicts pain, distraction or discomfort on the opponent. Additional sportsmanship etiquette includes the prompt release of the hand grip after the opponent is defeated. In certain districts of England this game is also known as peanuts, although Mercy is the traditional name.
