The Jew of Malta

Key themes

Greed and Avarice

Greed is the foundational theme, driving the actions of almost every character. Barabas's love for his wealth is paramount, and its seizure ignites his revenge. However, the Christian authorities are equally driven by avarice, seizing Jewish property and demanding tribute. The friars are corrupted by the prospect of Barabas's wealth, and Ithamore, Bellamira, and Pilia-Borza are all motivated by money.

Religious Hypocrisy and Prejudice

Marlowe relentlessly exposes the hypocrisy of all religious factions. While Barabas is a Jew, his Christian persecutors are shown to be equally, if not more, ruthless and self-serving. The friars are depicted as lustful and greedy, the governor as opportunistic. The play challenges the audience's assumptions about moral authority, suggesting that religious affiliation does not guarantee virtue and often serves as a pretext for prejudice and violence.

Revenge and Justice

Barabas's entire trajectory is driven by a desire for revenge against those who wronged him. What begins as a quest for retribution for the seizure of his wealth escalates into a series of increasingly elaborate and cruel murders. The play questions the nature of justice, as Barabas's actions, while often responding to an initial injustice, quickly become disproportionate and indiscriminate, highlighting the destructive cycle of violence.

Worth discussing

How does Marlowe challenge or reinforce anti-Semitic stereotypes of his time? Is Barabas a critique of prejudice or a product of it?