The abbess is the head nun at the new convent established in Barabas’s mansion. When Barabas convinces Abigail to join the nunnery under false pretenses, she appeals to the abbess. Ithamore and Barabas repeatedly accuse the abbess of having sexual relationships with the parish priests, and she is dies, along with Abigail and the rest of the nuns, when Barabas sends the convent a batch of poisoned rice as alms. Like Friars Bernardine and Jacomo, the abbess serves to reflect religious hypocrisy. Her role as a nun implies that she is pious and chaste, but her suspected sex life suggests her righteousness is just a farce.
Abbess Quotes in The Jew of Malta
The The Jew of Malta quotes below are all either spoken by Abbess or refer to Abbess. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
Barabas: Then Abigail, there must my girl
Entreat the abbess to be entertained.
Abigail: How, as a nun?
Barabas: Ay, daughter, for religion
Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.
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Abbess Quotes in The Jew of Malta
The The Jew of Malta quotes below are all either spoken by Abbess or refer to Abbess. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
Barabas: Then Abigail, there must my girl
Entreat the abbess to be entertained.
Abigail: How, as a nun?
Barabas: Ay, daughter, for religion
Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
