Themes
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 reading Ithamore’s letter. He can’t believe the slave is demanding 300 crowns. Barabas knows Bellamira is to blame, and now he must slit Ithamore’s throat as well. Even worse is Pilia-Borza, a worthless slave, with his mangled hands and “some fingers cut quite off.” As Barabas reads the letter, Pilia-Borza enters with Ithamore’s second letter. Pilia-Borza demands more gold and tells Barabas that 300 crowns will not be enough. He gives Barabas the letter and says they must have 500 more crowns.
Greed is on full display here, as Ithamore’s demands rise from 300 crowns to 500. Furthermore, Pilia-Borza’s mangled hands and missing fingers indicate that he is a thief—thieves were often punished during the 16th century by cutting off their fingers. Pilia-Borza’s missing fingers and his attempts to blackmail Barabas reflects both his greed and his Machiavellian nature.
Themes
Barabas asks Pilia-Borza why Ithamore does not come himself. If Ithamore asks Barabas, Barabas will gladly give him the money. Pilia-Borza says that Barabas will indeed pay the money—“or else.” Barabas grows angry and knows that he must get rid of Pilia-Borza, so he pleasantly asks Pilia-Borza to dine with him. In a short aside, Barabas admits that he plans to poison the thief, but Pilia-Borza rejects the invitation and again demands the gold. Barabas says he can’t pay him because he has lost his keys, and Pilia-Borza tells him not to worry, because he can easily pick the lock. Or, Barabas says, Pilia-Borza can sneak in through the window of the counting-house.
Clearly, Barabas knows that Pilia-Borza has previously broken into his counting-house, and he wants Pilia-Borza to know it, too. Pilia-Borza’s claim that Barabas will pay “or else” suggests they are prepared to kill him or turn him over to the authorities, who will be sure to hang him for murder. Barabas switches his demeanor and is immediately pleasant, which is no doubt more of his Machiavellian machinations at work.
Themes
Pilia-Borza immediately knows that Barabas is referring to the theft in his counting-house, but Pilia-Borza doesn’t care. He tells Barabas that he knows enough about him to see him hanged, and Barabas knows that Ithamore has definitely betrayed him. Barabas tells Pilia-Borza that it is not the money that upsets him; Barabas is heartbroken that his servant would turn on him like this. Barabas says he loves Ithamore more than he loves himself, and since Barabas doesn’t have any children, he plans to leave all his wealth to Ithamore upon his death.
Pilia-Borza doesn’t care if Barabas knows about his theft because he is certain Barabas is guilty of much worse. Barabas is clearly trying to lure Pilia-Borza into the house so that he can kill him, but Pilia-Borza refuses to take the bait.
Themes
Pilia-Borza tells Barabas that he is all talk and no gold, so Barabas reluctantly gives him a handful of coins. Barabas tells Pilia-Borza to take the money as a sign of good will and again asks Pilia-Borza to dine with him. Pilia-Borza again turns down the request and says that he will see Barabas soon enough to get the rest of the gold. As Pilia-Borza exits, Barabas knows he must do something, so he decides to visit Bellamira’s house in disguise and kill her, Ithamore, and Pilia-Borza.
Pilia-Borza seems to sense that Barabas is trying to trick him, and he again refuses to enter the house. Pilia-Borza’s suspicion again underscores how common betrayal and corruption are in Maltese and, Marlowe implies, English society, as Pilia-Borza seems certain that Barabas is not being truthful, about the money or his intentions.
Themes
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