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Act 2, Scene 2
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Jew of Malta, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God and Machiavellianism
Religious Hypocrisy
Anti-Semitism
Money and Greed
Betrayal and Revenge
Summary
Analysis
Barabas enters the market, where many slaves are on display with their prices written on their backs. Everyone thinks that Barabas is penniless since Ferneze seized his estate, but the small fortune hidden in the floorboards saved Barabas, and he has come to the market to buy a slave. Barabas again complains about the “swine-eating Christians” who wanted Abigail to become a nun and scoffs. Abigail is at home in Barabas’s fancy new mansion (which is just as luxurious as Ferneze’s house), and she is still Jewish.
Barabas’s remark about the “swine-eating Christians” implies that he despises the Christians as much as they hate him, and it further underscores their religious strife. The price of the slaves clearly marked on their backs is a strong visual that speaks to the value of money in relation to human life. Not every slave is worth the same amount, which creates a hierarchy even within the slaves themselves and contributes to the obvious social inequality in Maltese society.
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Barabas swears revenge against Ferneze and his son, Don Lodowick. Barabas is not capable of forgetting the slight of Ferneze’s theft. He says that “Jews can fawn like spaniels” when they want to—he learned long ago to let it go when people called him a “dog”—but he will have his revenge. As Barabas rants, he sees Lodowick enter the market. Lodowick heard that Barabas was there, and he is hoping to catch a glimpse of Abigail and see if she is as beautiful as Mathias claims. As Lodowick approaches, Barabas quietly says that he will now prove himself “to have more of the serpent than the / dove; that is, more knave than fool.”
Barabas swears revenge on Lodowick simply because he is Ferneze’s son, which underscores Barabas’s desire for revenge and the corruption and immorality that underpin his character. Lodowick has nothing to do with Ferneze’s theft of the Jews’ money, yet Barabas considers Lodowick guilty by association. Barabas’s comment that Jews can “fawn like spaniels” reflects anti-Semitic opinions that the Jews are no better than dogs and suggests that Barabas has internalized this hateful bias, as he easily slips into a submissive role when he suits him. Barabas’s claim that he will prove himself to be “more knave than fool” implies he has a plan and is actively scheming to get his revenge.
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Literary Devices
Lodowick asks Barabas where he is going, and Barabas answers that he is going nowhere now. Barabas claims it is “a custom held with us” to stop and “turn into the air to purge ourselves” when a “Gentile” speaks. Lodowick ignores Barabas’s comment and asks if Barabas can help him find a diamond. Barabas claims that Ferneze has all his diamonds; the only diamond Barabas has left is his daughter, Abigail. (In an aside, Barabas says that he would rather see Abigail dead than with Lodowick.) Lodowick asks if Barabas’s “diamond” sparkles “without a foil,” and Barabas assures him that the diamond has never been “foiled.” Lodowick then asks if the diamond is “square or pointed,” and Barabas says it is “pointed,” but in another aside Barabas adds, “but not for you.”
Barabas points to a Turkish slave and notes the price of 200 crowns. Barabas wonders if Turks are worth that much, and Lodowick notes a Moor worth 200 silver coins. Barabas asks why the Turk is worth more than the Moor and is told that the Turk is younger and in better shape. Barabas asks if the Turkish slave is in possession of the Philosopher’s Stone, and the young Turk assures him that he is not. Barabas decides that he will have a slave who is skinny and “sickly,” so it will cost less to feed and keep him.
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Barabas is shown a skinny slave named Ithamore, who comes from Arabia. Barabas pays 100 crowns and marks Itahamore’s price on his back. Then, Barabas turns to Lodowick and tells him to come and visit soon. They will talk about the “diamond,” Barabas says. As Lodowick exits, Mathias enters the market with his mother, Katherine. Mathias wonders what business Lodowick has with Barabas and worries that it might be about Abigail. Barabas watches Mathias enter. He knows that Mathias and Abigail love one another, but Barabas must “frustrate both their hopes” to get his revenge on Ferneze.
Katherine and Mathias inspect the slaves for sale, and Mathias pretends not to know Barabas. Then, Mathias quietly asks Barabas why he was talking to Lodowick, but Barabas tells him not to worry. They were talking about “diamonds,” Barabas says, “not of Abigail.” Katherine notices the hushed conversation and asks Mathias if he is talking to a “Jew.” Mathias admits he is, but he tells his mother they are talking about a book Mathias wants to borrow. Katherine forbids Mathias to talk to Barabas. “He is cast off from heaven,” she says. Katherine and Mathias pay for their slave and exit.
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Barabas asks Ithamore about his birth and profession. Ithamore says he is of low birth, and he claims that his profession is whatever Barabas wants. In that case, Barabas says, he will teach Ithamore his “trade.” First, Ithamore must be devoid of “compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear,” and he must “smile when the Christians moan.” Ithamore is excited by Barabas’s words. “Oh brave, master, I worship your nose for this,” Ithamore says. Barabas next tells Ithamore a bit about himself. Barabas likes to take late-night walks, murder sick people, and poison wells. When Barabas was young, he studied medicine and killed many people with his potions. Since then, he has been “extorting, cozening, [and] forfeiting” countless people into bankruptcy and debtors’ prison. Local hospitals are littered with the orphans of Barabas’s victims, and some have even committed suicide in their grief, but Barabas just smiles at their pain.
Ithamore next tells Barabas about himself. He enjoys burning down Christian villages, cutting the throats of Christian travelers, and crippling Christians on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Barabas can’t believe his luck. “We are villains both,” he says. “Both circumcisèd, we hate Christians both.” Don Lodowick again enters the market, asking Barabas where the “diamond” is that he promised. Barabas guides Lodowick to his mansion and yells for Abigail to open the door. Abigail appears, and Barabas tells her “entertain” Lodowick. In an aside, Barabas quietly tells her to treat Lodowick like a “Philistine”—promise to love him but remember that he does not come from “the seed of Abraham.”
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Abigail is reluctant and reminds Barabas that she loves Mathias. Of course, Barabas says, promising Abigail that she will have Mathias. But for now, Barabas needs her to distract Lodowick for a bit. She agrees and exits with Lodowick. Alone, Barabas celebrates his scheming. Lodowick will soon kiss Abigail and fall in love with her, and then Lodowick and Mathias will kill each other, and Barabas’s revenge on Ferneze will be complete. Suddenly, Mathias enters, and Barabas asks him to stop and visit.
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Mathias immediately asks where Abigail is, and Barabas answers by telling Mathias how he intends for Abigail to marry him. Yes, Mathias says, “or else thou wrong’st me much.” Barabas begins to cry and tells Mathias that Lodowick has been pursing Abigail behind Mathias’s back, sending her letters and gifts. Abigail sends them back and locks the door, but Lodowick persists. Now, Barabas is sure Abigail is somewhere with Lodowick. Mathias draws his sword and swears he will kill Lodowick. Barabas stops him. Please, Barabas begs. “If you love me, no quarrels in my house.” Then, Lodowick and Abigail appear holding hands. Mathias promises (with much difficulty) not to kill Lodowick—not now, at least—and exits.
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Lodowick and Abigail approach, and Lodowick asks if that was Mathias he saw leaving. Barabas confirms it was and informs Lodowick that Mathias has sworn an oath to kill him. Lodowick can’t imagine why his friend would want to kill him, and Barabas informs him that Mathias is angry over Abigail. Lodowick turns to Abigail and asks if she loves Mathias. Barabas tells Lodowick to look to Abigail’s smile for her answer. Abigail smiles at Lodowick, but in an aside, she admits that she does love Mathias and is smiling “against [her] will.” Lodowick can no longer contain his affection and asks Barabas if he will have his “diamond.” Barabas says Lodowick will (the “diamond” is “unsoiled,” he adds), unless Ferneze will object to his son marrying a Jewish girl—even a rich one.
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Lodowick assures Barabas that he is interested in Abigail, not Barabas’s money, and needs only Barabas’s consent to marry her. In another aside, Abigail asks Barabas if she must really agree to marry Lodowick. Barabas tells her it is just a farce; she doesn’t really have to marry him. “It is no sin to deceive a Christian,” Barabas says. Abigail begins to cry, and Lodowick asks if she is alright. Of course, Barabas says, claiming it is a Jewish custom for newly betrothed maidens to weep. Mathias again enters, and Lodowick vows revenge before he exits.
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Mathias begs Barabas to let him kill Lodowick, but Barabas again tells Mathias to stand down. Mathias can exact his revenge later, Barabas suggests, and Mathias agrees. Barabas again promises that Abigail will marry Mathias, but he says that Lodowick has gone to tell Mathias’s mother, Katherine, that Mathias is in love with Abigail. “She’ll die with grief,” Mathias says and exits.
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Alone with Barabas and Ithamore, Abigail promises that she will make Mathias and Lodowick friends again, and that she will have Mathias as her love. Barabas ignores her and tells Ithamore to lock her back in the house. After Ithamore locks Abigail away, Barabas asks Ithamore if he is enjoying himself. Ithamore admits that he is, and that he is impressed with Barabas’s scheming. Barabas gives Ithamore a letter and tells him to deliver it to Mathias and claim it is from Lodowick. The letter is a fake challenge from Lodowick to Mathias, and it is sure to turn them against each other.
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