Despite its legalistic debate over the pound of flesh and the laws of Venice, Shakespeare's The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, Al Pacino stars as Shylock in this film rendition of Shakespeare's thorniest play. "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's odd comedy with a dark streak, often is called a "problem play." It's also somewhat problematic. Shakespeare's Shylock from the Merchant of Venice is a complex character who not only defies simple definition but also takes over a play in which he is not the Megan Herrera is Jessica, Shylock's daughter, in The Merchant of Venice. The play will be presented the Jewish Community Center's Main Author: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Related Names: Kellogg, Brainerd,ed. Language(s):, English. Published: New York Maynard, Merrill & co., Sterling Professor of the Humanities Harold Bloom, William Shakespeare Harold Bloom. Struggle Moody, Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice, 35. 6. Ibid. The Word Made Flesh, Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice One way to understand Shakespeare's symbolism is to see how he