The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe

Description

The-Jew-of-Malta-by-Christopher-MarloweThe-spirit-of-Machiavelli-presides-over-The-Jew-of-Malta,-in-which-the-title-character-relentlessly-plots-to-maintain-and-extend-his-political-influence-and-wealth.-A-paragon-of-remorseless-evil,-Barabas-befriends-and-betrays-the-Turkish-invaders-and-native-Maltese-alike,-incites-a-duel-between-the-suitors-for-his-daughter’s-hand,-and-takes-lethal-revenge-upon-a-convent-of-nuns.Both-tragedy-and-farce,-this-masterpiece-of-Elizabethan-theater-reflects-the-social-and-political-complexities-of-its-age.-Christopher-Marlowe’s-dramatic-hybrid-resonates-with-racial-tension,-religious-conflict,-and-political-intrigue-—-all-of-which-abounded-in-16th-century-England.-The-playwright,-who-infused-each-one-of-his-plays-with-cynical-humor-and-a-dark-world-view, draws-upon-stereotypes-of-Muslim-and-Christian-as-well-as-Jewish-characters-to-cast-an-ironic-perspective-on-all-religious-beliefs.The-immediate-success-of-The-Jew-of-Malta-on-the-Elizabethan-stage-is-presumed-to-have-influenced-Marlowe’s-colleague,-William-Shakespeare,-to-draw-upon-the-same-source-material-for-The-Merchant-of-Venice-. The-character-of-Barabas-is-the-prototype-for-the-well-known-Shylock,-and-this-drama-of-his-villainy-remains-a-satirical-gem-in-its-own-right.