The Jew of Malta
The play revolves around the character Barabas, a wealthy Jewish merchant who seeks revenge against the Christians of Malta after they wrong him and confiscate his property. He plots to destroy the Christian community by manipulating them into killing each other off. Barabas's plan involves using his daughter Abigail as bait to lure in the young men of Malta, whom he then murders. He also manipulates the governor of Malta, Lodovico, into ordering the execution of a group of Jews who are innocent. As the play progresses, Barabas's schemes become increasingly complex and violent, ultimately leading to his own downfall when he is betrayed by his accomplices and killed in a trap set by the Christians.
By Christopher Marlowe · First published 1589 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Historical Fiction · 23 chapters · 41,192 words
First lines
DRAMATIS PERSONAE: Ferneze, governor of Malta. Lodowick, his son. Selim Calymath, son to the Grand Seignior. Martin del Bosco, Vice-Admiral of Spain. Mathias, a Gentleman. Barabas, a wealthy Jew. Ithamore, Barabas' slave. Jacomo, Friar. Barnardine, Friar. Pilia-Borza, a Bully, attendant to Bellamira. Two Merchants. Three Jews. Knights, Bassoes, Officers, Guard, Messengers, Slaves, and Carpenters Katharine, mother of Mathias. Abigail, daughter of Barabas. Bellamira, a Courtesan. Abbess. Two Nuns. Machiavel,1 Speaker of the Prologue.
SCENE: Malta.
What this Textopian page supports
The Jew of Malta is listed on Textopian as a play by Christopher Marlowe, dated 1589 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Christopher Marlowe
- Date: 1589 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Drama, Historical Fiction, Satire, Dark Comedy
- Length: 41,192 words
- Structure: 23 chapters, 1,248 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Jew of Malta?
- How does this play by Christopher Marlowe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Tragedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Tragedy — The play explores themes of revenge, greed, and moral corruption, characteristic of tragic narratives.
- Drama — The intense character interactions and conflicts drive the plot, typical of dramatic works.
- Historical Fiction — Set against a backdrop of historical events and cultural tensions, it reflects the societal issues of its time.
- Satire — The play critiques societal norms and religious hypocrisy through its characters and plot.
Tags
Tragedy · Drama · Comedy · Satire · History · Politics · Religion · Anti-Semitism · Racism · Colonialism · Power Struggle · Corruption
Contents
- Barabas Discovered in his Counting-House, with Heaps of Gold before him
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE V
- SCENE V
- SCENE V
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VI