The Jew of Malta: Act 3, Scene 4 Summary & Analysis

Barabas enters, reading a letter from Abigail. He is shocked that his daughter has joined the convent, and now she expects him to atone, too. Barabas worries that Abigail knows about his involvement in Mathias and Lodowick’s deaths, for it certainly appears as if she does not love Barabas anymore. Ithamore suddenly enters and interrupts Barabas. “Come near my love,” Barabas says to Ithamore, “my second life.” He asks Ithamore when he last saw Abigail, and Ithamore claims he saw her earlier in the day with Friar Jacomo.

Barabas is certain that Jacomo is to blame for Abigail’s conversion. Abigail has definitely joined the convent, Ithamore confirms, but she sent for the friar herself. “False, credulous, inconstant Abigail!” Barabas cries. He claims his daughter is a “disgrace,” and he swears that she will never inherit a trace of his wealth. Barabas vows that she will die by his “bitter curse,” just “like Cain by Adam, for his brother’s death.” 

Ithamore tries to interrupt Barabas’s rant, but Barabas doesn’t listen and tells Ithamore not to defend Abigail. Barabas further says that he could not stand it if Ithamore hated him like Abigail clearly does, but Ithamore promises complete devotion to Barabas and says he would do anything for his master. Barabas says that Ithamore is his only friend, and he promises that Ithamore will inherit all his wealth upon his death. Until then, Barabas says that Ithamore is welcome to half of all that he has, offering him new clothes and the keys to his house. But first, Ithamore must fetch Barabas a pot of rice. Ithamore agrees and exits. 

Ithamore soon returns with a pot of rice, and Barabas tells him that he will soon witness Abigail’s death and become Barabas’s only heir. Ithamore is excited to hear it and asks if Barabas plans to poison the rice. Yes, Barabas says, with a special powder he bought from an Italian port. The poison is strong, but it takes 40 hours to take effect. Barabas says that Ithamore is to take the pot of rice to the nunnery and drop it off as alms. Ithamore must be careful not to be seen, Barabas says, dropping in the poison. Ithamore immediately agrees, but Barabas tells him to slow down and let him stir. The rice will be fatal, Barabas says, like that “which great Alexander drunk,” or “like Borgia’s wine.”

Barabas hands the poisoned rice to Ithamore and tells him to hurry back after he has dropped it at the convent; Barabas has more work for Ithamore to do. Ithamore agrees and hurries off. As Ithamore exits, he says that Barabas may pay him later. Once Ithamore is gone, Barabas says that he plans to pay Ithamore “with a vengeance.”