El Marxant de Venecia

This Catalan translation brings Shakespeare’s Venetian comedy to life, painting the glittering canals and the quiet country estate of Belmont with rich, period‑specific diction. A bustling ensemble—Antonio the melancholy merchant, Bassanio the aspiring lover, the proud Prince of Morocco, Shylock the calculating lender, and a chorus of witty friends—floods the narrative with humor and tension.

In the opening scene Antonio confides an unnamed sadness to his friends Salarino and Solanio, prompting playful speculation about love, fear, or the fickle fortunes of the sea. Soon Bassanio appears, pleading for financial aid to court the rich heiress Portia, and the group turns to Shylock, whose cautious pride leads him to propose a bond that could cost more than money. The stakes rise as suitors from distant lands gather, cultural tensions surface, and the characters' desires clash, setting a compelling stage for the moral dilemmas and romantic entanglements that will unfold.