The Role of Jews in Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta and its Broader Thematic Concerns
Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta (1592) presents a complex and provocative portrayal of the Jewish character, identity, and role within the mercantile world of Malta. The play centers around Barabas, a wealthy Jewish merchant whose fortunes are entangled with the political, religious, and economic turmoil of the island. Through Barabas and his interactions with both Christians and Jews, Marlowe explores not only the social and economic dynamics of Malta’s mercantile world but also broader thematic concerns related to religious intolerance, revenge, greed, and the nature of identity. The play’s depiction of Jews, as well as its engagement with the tensions between Jewish and Christian worlds, offers a biting critique of religious and cultural prejudice, while also revealing deeper anxieties about the relationships between commerce, morality, and power.
1. The Role of Jews in Malta’s Mercantile World
In The Jew of Malta, the Jewish community, represented primarily by Barabas, occupies a prominent position within the mercantile economy of Malta, which is characterized by its strategic importance as a trading hub in the Mediterranean. Barabas is introduced as a shrewd, wealthy, and powerful merchant, possessing vast wealth gained from trade, particularly in the profitable business of commerce and banking. His success places him in direct competition with the Christian merchants of Malta, underscoring the tension between the Christian majority and the Jewish minority.
The play depicts Jews as integral to the economic structure of Malta, reflecting the real-world role that Jewish communities often played in European mercantile economies during the Renaissance period. Jews were often prohibited from owning land or holding political power but were nonetheless crucial in finance and trade, as they were allowed to engage in moneylending and trade in ways that were restricted for Christians, due to the Christian prohibition on usury. Barabas's wealth and influence are thus tied to his involvement in commerce, but his status as a Jew marks him as both an outsider and a target of Christian resentment. This portrayal of Jews as essential yet marginalized figures in the economic world highlights the contradictions inherent in the treatment of Jews during this period: they were simultaneously necessary to the functioning of society and vilified because of their religious and cultural difference.
2. Religious Intolerance and Prejudice
Marlowe’s play is deeply concerned with the theme of religious intolerance, which is evident in the interactions between Jews and Christians. Barabas's wealth and his position in the mercantile world bring him into direct conflict with the Christian authorities of Malta. The Maltese Governor and other Christian characters openly express disdain for Jews, often resorting to caricatures of the Jewish character as greedy, deceitful, and morally corrupt. Barabas, in turn, mirrors these negative stereotypes through his own actions—he is depicted as calculating, vengeful, and unscrupulous. However, Marlowe complicates this portrayal by giving Barabas agency and depth, allowing him to reflect on and retaliate against the oppression he faces. Barabas’s desire for revenge against the Christians who wrong him becomes a central driving force in the plot, and his actions illustrate the destructive consequences of religious hatred and prejudice on both sides.
The play’s emphasis on religious hypocrisy is also critical in this context. While the Christians denounce Barabas for his usurious practices and his “Jewish” ways, many of their own actions, particularly those of characters like the Governor and the friars, are equally morally dubious. The play critiques Christian hypocrisy, as the Christians themselves engage in acts of greed, manipulation, and treachery. This moral ambiguity complicates the audience’s understanding of the conflict, suggesting that the tension between Jews and Christians is less about religious differences and more about power dynamics, envy, and human failings.
3. Greed, Revenge, and Morality
Barabas is driven by his overwhelming desire for wealth and revenge, which becomes the central theme of the play. His quest for vengeance against the Christians who seize his fortune after he is betrayed by the government forms the core of the drama. The play portrays Barabas’s ambition and ruthlessness in business and personal affairs as a manifestation of his character’s moral decay. Yet, his actions can also be understood as a reaction to the systemic injustice and humiliation that he faces as a Jew in a Christian-dominated society.
Marlowe’s portrayal of Barabas as a tragic figure who is consumed by his desire for revenge and material gain invites the audience to consider the consequences of unchecked greed. Barabas’s moral deterioration is depicted as both a personal flaw and a product of the social conditions that marginalize him. The play suggests that the intensity of Barabas’s revenge is fueled by the social and religious oppression he experiences, presenting a critique of the way systemic injustice can lead individuals to act in ways that are morally indefensible. At the same time, Barabas's pursuit of vengeance and wealth mirrors the behavior of the Christian characters, highlighting the universality of human flaws such as greed, pride, and deceit, regardless of religious affiliation.
4. Themes of Identity and the Other
The play engages with the broader theme of identity—specifically, the concept of the “Other” and the tensions between insiders and outsiders in society. Barabas is positioned as an outsider in Malta because of his Jewish faith, which marks him as fundamentally different from the Christian majority. Throughout the play, his Jewishness is both a source of power (as he controls much of the economy) and a source of vulnerability (as it makes him a target of Christian hostility).
This tension between insiders and outsiders is compouanded by the play’s exploration of self-identity. Barabas’s relentless pursuit of vengeance and wealth can be seen as an expression of his attempt to assert his own sense of identity in a world that continuously marginalizes him. His manipulation of the other characters and his ultimate downfall reflect the dangers of an identity defined by revenge and self-interest. In a broader sense, Marlowe’s portrayal of Barabas highlights how social and religious divisions can distort human identity, creating a world where individuals are trapped in a cycle of hatred and retribution.
Conclusion
In The Jew of Malta, Marlowe offers a nuanced portrayal of Jews within the mercantile world of Malta, depicting them as both integral to the economy and marginalized by religious and cultural prejudices. The play critiques the hypocrisies and destructive consequences of religious intolerance, as well as the moral dangers of unchecked greed and revenge. Barabas’s character, both a product of and a reaction to his social and religious environment, exemplifies the complexities of identity, vengeance, and the human condition in a world rife with division and moral ambiguity. Through its portrayal of Barabas and the conflicts between Jews and Christians, The Jew of Malta remains a powerful exploration of power, prejudice, and the human cost of intolerance.
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