The Jew of Malta: Act 1
45 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Who narrates the Prologue of the play?

  • Barabas
  • Ferneze
  • Machevill (correct)
  • Abigail

    • What does Barabas discover about his ships in Act I?

  • They are lost at sea
  • They have safely docked in Malta (correct)
  • They have sunk
  • They have been seized by pirates

    • Why does Barabas's daughter, Abigail, pretend to convert to Christianity?

  • To marry Lodowick
  • To escape Malta
  • To enter the convent (correct)
  • To recover her father's treasure

    • Why does the governor Ferneze confiscate Barabas's wealth?

    <p>To pay tribute to the Turks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who convinces Ferneze to break his alliance with the Turks?

    <p>Del Bosco</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas plan to seek revenge after his wealth is confiscated?

    <p>By plotting a series of deadly schemes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What information does Lodowick hear about Abigail from his friend Mathias?

    <p>Her great beauty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Barabas use to exact revenge on Ferneze?

    <p>Mathias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the slave Barabas buys who hates Christians as much as he does?

    <p>Ithamore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Abigail plan to evade her father's wrath towards the end of the story?

    <p>By joining a convent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who frames Jacomo for a crime involving murder?

    <p>Ithamore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does Ithamore play in the deaths of Bellamira, Pilia-Borza, and Barabas?

    <p>He poisons them with a flower</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who confesses Barabas's crimes to Ferneze, leading to Barabas being sent for?

    <p>Ithamore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Barabas's plan when he invites Calymath to a feast at his home?

    <p>To free Malta from Turkish rule and kill Calymath in exchange for money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when Calymath arrives at the feast at Barabas's home?

    <p>Ferneze prevents Barabas from killing Calymath</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What dominates the play as it grows to consume Barabas?

    <p>Vengeance and Retribution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas avoid capture for a long period of time?

    <p>Through anticipation of people's moves and motives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the heavily ironic tone of the play suggest about man's motives?

    <p>Man is solely driven by his own motives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Barabas threaten to repay Ithamore with, despite the slave's loyalty?

    <p>With betrayal and treachery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the theme of vengeance contribute to the theatricality of the play?

    <p>It contributes to the stagy feel and self-referential theatricality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What overarching theme in the play challenges the traditional ideas of good and evil?

    <p>Machiavellian strategy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the Catholic priests behave in terms of religious morals in the play?

    <p>They deceive each other for money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does Ferneze secure Malta's freedom according to the text?

    <p>By using Machiavellian strategies against Barabas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Marlowe suggest about the characters' trust in religion from the Prologue of the play?

    <p>Religion is a childish toy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is unique about the struggle between characters in the play compared to traditional good versus evil battles?

    <p>Characters engage in Machiavellian tactics for power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Barabas emphasize about deception in the play?

    <p>Deceiving strategically can help achieve political ends.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What quality makes Barabas stand out as a strategist according to the text?

    <p>His ability to deceive convincingly without remorse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the priests Bernardine and Jacomo differ from Barabas in terms of dissimulation?

    <p>They pretend to have good intentions but are after personal gain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key difference does Marlowe highlight between Barabas and other characters regarding deception?

    <p>Barabas views deception as a necessary strategy, unlike other characters who see it as immoral.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas's stance on deception compare to the traditional ideas of good and evil in the play?

    <p>Barabas's deceptions challenge traditional ideas of good and evil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas use biblical allusions in the play?

    <p>To mock and undermine the seriousness of events</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What purpose do proverbs serve in the play regarding Ithamore's character?

    <p>To bridge the world of the stage and the audience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Marlowe imply through Pilia-Borza's proverbial statement 'Hodie tibi, cras mihi'?

    <p>The predictability of fate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do allusions and proverbs contribute to the cultural dialogue in the play?

    <p>By bridging the gulf between theater and real life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Marlowe's use of biblical and classical allusions add to the understanding of the play's setting?

    <p>It provides insight into contemporary Elizabethan England</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What motivates Barabas to seek revenge against Ferneze?

    <p>His desire for power and control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Abigail's conversion to Christianity impact the play?

    <p>It highlights the theme of religious hypocrisy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What makes Barabas an outsider within Maltese society?

    <p>His Jewish heritage and cunning nature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas differ from other characters in terms of honesty about his crimes?

    <p>He is generally honest about his motivations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What drives many of Barabas's murders according to the text?

    <p>Motiveless hate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What trait is shared by Barabas and Ithamore?

    <p>Love for money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who falls victim to Barabas's plot, leading to the first innocent death in the play?

    <p>Don Mathias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What flaw does Marlowe imply about Friar Jacomo?

    <p>Lust for money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Barabas use Bellamira and Pilia-Borza to his advantage?

    <p>He frames them for a crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who convinces Ferneze to change his alliance in return for Spanish protection?

    <p>Martin del Bosco</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Play's Prologue

    • The play's narrator is Machiavel, a character from Niccolò Machiavelli's works.

    Barabas's Wealth and Ships

    • Barabas discovers that his ships have arrived safely in Malta.
    • Governor Ferneze confiscates Barabas's wealth, citing a new law that requires Jews to surrender half of their goods.

    Abigail's Conversion and Ferneze's Alliance

    • Abigail, Barabas's daughter, pretends to convert to Christianity to access her father's wealth.
    • Martin del Bosco, the Spanish ambassador, convinces Ferneze to break his alliance with the Turks.

    Barabas's Revenge

    • Barabas plans to seek revenge by using his wealth and resources to destroy his enemies.
    • He uses Ithamore, a slave, to exact revenge on Ferneze.

    Ithamore and Abigail

    • Ithamore is a slave who hates Christians as much as Barabas does.
    • Lodowick hears from his friend Mathias that Abigail is living in a convent.

    Plot Twists and Deaths

    • Barabas frames Jacomo for a crime involving murder.
    • Ithamore plays a role in the deaths of Bellamira, Pilia-Borza, and Barabas.
    • Friar Barnardine confesses Barabas's crimes to Ferneze, leading to Barabas being sent for.

    Barabas's Plans and Motivations

    • Barabas plans to repay Ithamore with gold and jewels for his loyalty.
    • Barabas's plan when he invites Calymath to a feast at his home is to trap and kill him.
    • Calymath arrives at the feast and is trapped by Barabas's plan.

    Themes and Tone

    • The play's heavily ironic tone suggests that man's motives are driven by self-interest and greed.
    • The theme of vengeance contributes to the theatricality of the play.
    • The overarching theme of the play challenges traditional ideas of good and evil.
    • The play suggests that characters' trust in religion is flawed.

    Characters and Deception

    • Barabas emphasizes the importance of deception in the play.
    • Barabas stands out as a strategist due to his ability to deceive and manipulate others.
    • The priests Bernardine and Jacomo differ from Barabas in their use of dissimulation.
    • Barabas's stance on deception contrasts with traditional ideas of good and evil.

    Cultural Dialogue and Allusions

    • Biblical allusions are used throughout the play to add context and meaning.
    • Proverbs serve a purpose in the play, particularly in regards to Ithamore's character.
    • Marlowe implies through Pilia-Borza's proverbial statement 'Hodie tibi, cras mihi' that life is uncertain and fleeting.
    • Allusions and proverbs contribute to the cultural dialogue in the play, highlighting the themes of deception and revenge.

    Barabas's Character

    • Barabas seeks revenge against Ferneze due to the confiscation of his wealth.
    • Barabas is an outsider within Maltese society due to his Jewish faith.
    • Barabas differs from other characters in his honesty about his crimes.
    • Many of Barabas's murders are driven by his desire for revenge and wealth.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Test your knowledge on Act I of 'The Jew of Malta', a play by Christopher Marlowe. Explore the opening scenes involving the character Barabas and his interactions with other characters in Malta.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser