The Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta
- Slides: 7
The Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta Written by Christopher Marlowe Presented by Christopher Knock
Marlowe Facts and Fictions § § § § Life span 1564– 1593 Born in Canterbury Educated at Cambridge Actor and dramatist for the Lord Admiral's Company in London (1587) Thought by some to be a spy working as part of the great espionage network created by Elizabeth I's secretary of state, Sir Francis Walsingham. Died by having his own dagger shoved into his eye in a bar. Friser (the killer) thought to be a collaborator in a lager cover up scheem.
Review § Plot – Prologue – Act 1 § Opens with Barabas § Governor puts tax on Jews of Malta – Act 2 § Barabas continues to scheme to get his wealth back – Act 3 § Intro to Bellamira and her pimp Pilia-Borza – Act 4 § Barabas and Ithamore have killed the nuns § The friars die of greed – Act 5 § § Barabas helps Calymath invade Malta Barabas becomes governor of Malta Barabas makes a deal with Ferneze betrays Barabas and he dies
Characters § § § Barabas and Ithamore Ferneze Abigail Mathias and Lodowick Friar Jacomo and Friar Bernardine
Themes and Symbols § Machiavellian – Deception § § Vengeance Hypocrisy Gold Others?
Questions to ponder § The Jew of Malta is supposed to be played as a tragedy. How might the irony of the play hinder the players from producing a tragic work? § If Barabas is all evil why do we as the audience feel sympathy for him? § What references or allusions in the play lead to a possible anti-Semitic reading of the play?
Bibliography § David, Eric Rasmussen. "The Jew of Malta. " Oxford English Drama: Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and other plays. Ed. Bevington Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. 249 -322. § Jokinen Anniina. "luminarium. " Marlowe, Christopher. 27/09/2003. . 4/11/2003 <http: //www. luminarium. org/renlit/marlowe. htm>. § "Marlowe, Christopher. " The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 2003 on Infoplease. com. © 2003 Family Education Network. 4/11/2003 <http: //www. infoplease. com/ce 6/people/A 0831904. html>.