In The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1, line 182 what type of language is ued in Portia's mercy speech?In The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene...

Portia begins her speech comparing mercy to a gentle rain.
 This is a metaphor.  She extends the metaphor by explaining it (rain/mercy) is twice
blessed because it affects both the one who gives mercy and the one that receives it.
 She then goes on to explain that it takes a big person to give mercy.  "Tis mightiest
in the mightiness".  She continues by explaining how mercy is an "attribute of God
himself".

It must be remembered that Portia is trying to
"save" his soul.  She is being straight forward and honest in this plea for mercy. By
this time, Shylock has already refused an enormous amount of money to settle the over
due debt and he refuses.  It must be understood that it has gone beyond the money itself
into something quite different.

Shylock believes that by
extracting the forfeit (Antonio's pound of flesh), that he is getting revenge, not just
for what he has suffered at the hands of the Christian community in Venice but revenge
for all the Jewish suffering at their hands.  He made a pledge to
God.

Basically, this is a fight for his soul and the
Christian community "wins".  Shylock is forced to convert at the end of the
scene.

Question, ... just how good a Christian will Shylock
be?