• Jonson termed it a “get-penny”
  • Caricature of the jew, who wore a costumed large nose and was perceived as the personification of tyranny.
  • Very famous siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks – all were very interested in what happened. Seen as the first setback to the Ottoman empire in over 100 years.
  • The Battle of Lepanto was the second setback…
  • Many pamphlets about the intentions of the turks. People were very interested in slavery etc.: agitated by trade in Christian slaves.
  • Play at the faultline between Christianity and Judaism.
  • Typical Marvolian emphasis on naming – Barbaras is named often, but rarely named by himself –
  • Seen in the Bible: Matthew 25:24-26.
  • The Jew of Malta – I.ii.108-110.
  • Echoed in the Merchant of Venice.
  • Medieval reputation was held:
  • III.vi.
  • St. Domingo de Val – 13thC.
  • St. William of Norwich.
  • Stereotypes:
  • II.iii.226-239: Bible quotes leading to stereotype. Constant jumping.
  • II.iii.250-1:
  • Using the Bible as justification of murder.
  • Contamination of the text.
  • Religion was a background, commerce was the true foreground.
  • His interest rates are extortionate – a hundred for a hundred.
  • J.R. Hale – “Banishment in the name of faith, restricted permission to stay in the name of the pocket.”
  • Barbaras had always been there – knows of the world, e.g. “Sammites”.
  • “Infinite riches in a little room” – links to Donne’s La Corona; “Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb”.
  • Inversion of the Book of Job – Barbaras turns to impatient anger.
  • Gold, wealth, money are repeatedly talked about. III.v. “desire for gold” drives people around the world.
  • K.Minshull – Marlowe’s Sound Machiavell
  • Too faithful to his beliefs
  • Wants money, not power
  • The true Machiavel is the Christian governor. In the RSC production in 1987, Ferneze was robed as a Machiavel.
  • Vienna 2002: Peter Zadek produced JOM under a Holocaust reading.
  • Greenblatt: “Barbaras is brought into being by the Christian society around him.”
  • More crucially than his language to others are his asides to the audience.
  • Also Barbaras often is show in in the upper-acting area, giving him close associations with the audience. V.v.42-50.
  • The audience are referred to as “worldlings”.
  • Challenge to the audience to recognise themselves in Jewish characters? “Faith is not – heretics(?)
  • Essex used this play to popularise Lopez’s death.
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