The most famous character in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is not in fact the merchant, who is the ill-fated Antonio whose ships will be wrecked and whose flesh will be forfeit to a vengeful money lender. That money lender, Shylock, is certainly the most lasting portraiture from the play, but even so, Shakespeare wrote a comedy in which a serious consequence is avoided, the villain deposed and the rest of the players go on to wed, bed and be merry. Merchant of Venice is only a tragedy to someone who cares about this man’s miserable fate of being stripped of his property, forced to give up his faith and to know that his daughter will be married and join with those who are his enemies.