On a magnificent
farm, in the
municipality of Campos de Goitacases (Rio de Janeiro) lives Isaura, a
pretty
slave with skin the colour of ivory. Isaura is the daughter of
a beautiful slave who, since she will not submit to the sordid wishes
of the
commander, Almeida, suffers the most terrible deprivations.
She has an affair with the supervisor Miguel, who is a good man and
does not carry out the instructions to punish her ordered by his
master, Isaura being the result of this relationship. Isaura is
educated by the wife of the commander, and already endowed with
natural kindness and warm-heartedness she also learns to play the
piano and to read and write Italian and French. The wife of the
commander wishes to
free Isaura, but does not in order to keep her
near to her and so to have company. Sr Almeida retires, retreating to
the court and hands over the farm to his son Leôncio. He is a
worthy heir of all the bad taste and debauchery of the commander. He
marries for financial gain. He harbours for Isaura the most blind and
violent love. He comes to the farm with his wife - Malvina - and his
brother-in-law - Henrique. Malvina is a docile woman and she treats
Isaura very well. Henrique is a rich son, a student of medicine, and
is also touched by the beauty of Isaura. The mother of Leôncio
dies without leaving a will that would free Isaura. Henrique quickly
realizes Leôncio's intentions towards Isaura. Being afraid that
he will betray his sister, he warns that he will not tolerate such an
act. Henrique offers himself as a lover to Isaura and would give her
her freedom in exchange. The gardener of the farm, a deformed being
and abject, also offers himself as a lover. Isaura pays no attention
to these proposals and vows never to marry without love. Leôncio
is seen by Henry and Malvina when making a similar proposal to
Isaura. Malvina pronounces: either her (Isaura) or me. In the midst
of the heated discussion, the father of Isaura appears with
sufficient money, an enormous amount of 10 contos, to buy her freedom
in accordance with that which had been promised by the commander
Almeida. Leôncio does not accepted the money giving empty
excuses. Leôncio's father dies and he feigns immense sadness
for days. After a certain time, Malvina continues to apply pressure
to free Isaura. With Leôncio's excuses and dilatoriness, she
decides to return to her father's house. With her exit the way is
free for the indecent intentions of Leôncio. As Isaura
continues to resist, Leôncio threatens torture. Miguel, knowing
this, decides to escape with Isaura to the North.
Arriving in Recife, the lovely Venice
of America, Isaura changes her name to Elvira and Miguel his to
Anselmo and they start to live on a
smallholding in the district of
Santo Antônio. Álvaro is a rich young man, son of an
opulent family of distinction, liberal, republican and abolitionist
to the extreme. He catches sight of Isaura when she is walking near
to his smallholding and gets to knows her, visiting her constantly.
Álvaro uses all his means to convince Isaura to go to a
ball with him. Isaura does not want to go because she feels it means
deceiving society and deluding her lover. She several times tried to
tell Álvaro that she is an escaped slave, but can't find the
courage. She only accepts to go arguing that such reclusive behaviour
would awaken the attention of the police. Isaura senses a bad presage
about the ball.
At the ball, Isaura stands out among
all the women because of her beauty and her excellent ability at the
piano. However, she is recognized by Martinho - a student, lustful
with a sordid greed - who is holding back from announcing the secret
that she is an escaped slave. He provokes a scandal during the ball
and Isaura confesses in front of everyone that she is a slave.
Álvaro, nonetheless, defends her and acts as her guarantor, so
that she does not fall into the filthy hands of Martinho. He, not
being able to take hold of her, writes to Leôncio informing him
that he has found his slave. Thanks to the valuable intervention of
Álvaro, Miguel and Isaura continue on his smallholding in
Saint Antônio awaiting the result of the actions that he has
promised to take. While Álvaro is at the smallholding with
Isaura, Leôncio appears by surprise and demands to take Isaura.
Leôncio obtains a warrant for the arrest of Miguel and guards
to take his slave. A heated argument ensues and Álvaro strikes
towards Leôncio. The fight ceases with the appearance of Isaura
who delivers herself to her master. Isaura returns to the farm where
where she is kept in the most complete seclusion. Leôncio would
like to be reconciled with Malvina, since he is going to need his
money. Miguel is duped into chains and convinced to try to persuade
Isaura to get married to Belchior, the gardener on the farm, in
exchange for his freedom and that of his daughter.
Isaura accepts the sacrifice since she
is without strength and without hope. Leôncio has already made
all arrangements for the marriage, when he is informed that some
gentlemen have arrived. Thinking it is the vicar and the public
notary, he says to let them enter. He is taken by surprise to see
Álvaro. He has gone to the Rio de Janeiro and discovered from
traders that Leôncio is bankrupt. He buys and becomes the owner
of the whole of Leôncio's debt.
Álvaro tells Leôncio that
he no longer owns anything, that the whole his farm including the
slaves have become his in the liquidation of his debts. Isaura
embraces Álvaro. Leôncio swears that he will never plead
for his generosity to relieve the debt. He goes from the room and
commits suicide.
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