“The Jew of Malta”, written by Christopher Marlowe shows the fall of Barabas and a clear depiction of social realism as well. The plot of the play is packed tightly and Marlowe depicts the lack of sympathetic feelings for the protagonist in the play. The play revolves around the Ottoman Empire where Malta is suppose to pay taxes to the Ottoman Empire but Barabas refuses to pay and his wealth was confiscated. Marlowe also shows the antisemitic culture in the play and the communal riots between Christians and Jews.
Barabas is the main protagonist of the play and the play can be considered as a revenge play because the protagonist himself is revengeful in his nature and type. When Barabas wealth was confiscated by Ferneeze, he took revenge by plotting against his son Lodowick. He deceives Lodowick and and manipulates Mathias into a fight with him where both of them were in love with Barabas daughter and eventually the deception of Barabas killed both of them. This is how Barabas took revenge on Ferneeze for confiscating his wealth and riches using his son.
However, Barabas also took revenge on his own daughter Abigail. When Abigail found out the reality of his own father and realizes that the death of Lodowick and Mathias was because of his own father, Barabas felt a sense of betrayal when Abigail entreats Friar Jacomo and converts to Christianity so he vows to avenge her. She wrote a letter to the Friar claiming Barabas actions and when Barabas gets to know about the letter , he sends Ithamore to poison the nunnery and hence Abigail died of the poison.
In addition to this, Barabas as a character was a revengeful in his nature. Ithamore was a salve servant to him and when Ithamore starts to blackmail Barabas , he decide to avenge him. Ithamore was in love with a woman and they wanted to get married but soon Barabas send Ithamore a poisonous flower which eventually lead to their death. Hence, he pushes everyone who comes into his way and takes revenge.
Lastly, Barabas major flaw in the play was his greedy nature. He was so greedy that he lacks remorse of his own actions and hence he decide to befriend Calymath so to acquire the position of governor. His life was filled with danger and he befriended Ferneeze so to get rid of the dangers at the end of the play. Ferneeze took revenge on Barabas by deceiving him and later at the end of the play, Barabas fall on his own trap on the boiling cauldron and dies.
Antisemitism in Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta
