Barabbas the Jew

Barabbas the Jew

Barabbas the Jew is the main character and protagonist in The “Jew of Malta”. We can take on many aspect of his personality as well as character. Barabbas is surely an anti-hero and like other Marlovian protagonists Tamburlaine and Dr. Faustus he also represent one of the main Renaissance three characteristics. Barabbas here is representative of wealth. As per Renaissance ideology three basic ways to achieve true pleasure are Knowledge, Power and Wealth. Marlow was a true Renaissance representative as he was one of those university wits who changed the course of English Literature. Although Barabbas is a negative character yet he stands unique and powerful by many aspects.

From the very beginning of drama we see Barabbas counting money which he earned from his trades. His lusty nature is very clear from the beginning as he curses those who pay him in silver and refers silver as trash “what a trouble ‘tis to count this trash!” While he praises Arabs because they pay in Gold and it takes lesser time to count it “well fare the Arabians who so richly pay”. He always keeps thinking to gain more and more money. The trades he make, the deals he do, every decision, every action and every act of Barabbas has only sole motive to increase his wealth. Dreams of Indian and Moor merchants shows his lust for wealth. The main turning point of the drama starts from his rivalry with Farneze. Even this starts because of wealth, when Farneze takes Jew’s wealth and occupies his lands and house. And all the latter events become its consequences. All other killing done by him were because of wealth, he kills Ithamore, Bellamira and her assistant Pilia-Borza because of wealth, there were other motives too but wealth was always a major motive and root cause. Like in last part of drama when he is made the governor of Malta he tends to leave governorship only because he can earn more money as a merchant rather as a governor “and neither gets him friends nor fills his bag” more on he gives the example of Aesop’s Ass to himself that being governor would be like ass of Aesop’s story who carried a heavy load of bread and wine but feeds on thorny bushes “Lives like the ass that Aesop speaketh of, That labours with a load of bread and wine, And leaves it off to snap on thistle-tops”

Another aspect of his character is selfishness. He is mean and selfish. He can use anyone for his own benefits. He even uses his daughter to accomplish his goals and fulfil his plans. He uses her well to take revenge from Farneze by killing Lodowick. Before this he takes his money out of his old house which turns into nunnery by sending Abigail in the guise of Nun. He uses Ithamore in his plans by false-promising of making him his heir. He is ready to use anyone at any time for his own good. He thinks only for himself, his only love and priority is his self.

We can also take Barabbas as stage depiction of Machiavellian ideology. In the very beginning of the drama we see the Machiavel which is the spirit of Machiavelli. Machiavel introduces Barabbas as his follower “And let him not be entertain’d the worse, because he favors me”. All the actions done by Barabbas show the very Machiavellian ideology. While guiding Ithamore he suggest him not to love anyone, not to have any affections, not to feels mercy, not to feel sympathy, never fear and never have any useless hope. For Barabbas everything is materialistic, he sees everything in aspect of profit or loss. Emotions and relation do not have any values for him. Only thing he cares for is himself or his wealth. As he uses his daughter for his own benefits, when Barabbas sends Abigail in nunnery to take him out his money. Barabbas does not fear for Abigail’s life the only thing he remains concerned about is money, like when he gets his money back he says “My gold, my fortune, my felicity, strength to my soul, death to mine enemy” and hugs the bags full of money.

Barabbas is also shown as a type character he is shown as a typical Jew a calculated and cunning person, always thinking upon a plot, always deceiving someone and always trying to add more to his wealth. he hates Christians like a true Jew and refers them as “no Hebrew born”. Barabbas teaches his daughter that to deceive Christians is no sin as they are not from us, on another occasion he advices Ithamore also to smile when see any Christian suffering. He hates Christians and on many occasions he shows his hatred

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