The Jew of Malta Characters

Barabas is the richest Jew in Malta, Abigail’s father, and the protagonist of The Jew of Malta. He is exceedingly greedy and corrupt, and he obtained his wealth through Machiavellian means, which means… read analysis of Barabas

Ferneze is the governor of Malta and Lodowick’s father. Like Barabas, Ferneze is deceptive and fond of Machiavellian scheming. When Malta owes the Turkish Empire 100,000 crowns they can’t pay, Ferneze exploits Malta’s… read analysis of Ferneze

Ithamore is a Turkish slave, presumably brought to Malta by Martin Del Bosco after capturing a Turkish ship, sinking it, and taking the men as slaves. Barabas buys Ithamore—a skinny man Barabas is certain will… read analysis of Ithamore

Abigail is Barabas’s daughter and Mathias’s love. Abigail is incredibly beautiful and young—around 14—and she is first introduced after Ferneze seizes Barabas’s wealth and converts his mansion into a convent. Barabas convinces Abigail… read analysis of Abigail

Don Lodowick is Ferneze’s son and Mathias’s friend. After Mathias tells Lodowick all about Barabas’s beautiful daughter, Abigail, Lodowick goes behind Mathias’s back and tries to win Abigail’s love, even though… read analysis of Don Lodowick

Bellamira is a local prostitute and Pilia-Borza’s partner. Ithamore first notices Bellamira while out delivering Barabas’s forged letter to Mathias, and Ithamore instantly falls in love with her. Bellamira convinces Ithamore that… read analysis of Bellamira

Pilia-Borza is a local thief and Bellamira’s partner. Pilia-Borza breaks into Barabas’s counting-house and steals a bag of silver coins, and he is determined to get back in and take Barabas’s huge stash… read analysis of Pilia-Borza

Friar Jacomo is a member of one of the Christian monasteries in Malta, and after Barabas engineers the deaths of Lodowick and Mathias, Abigail appeals to Jacomo to join the nunnery for real as… read analysis of Friar Jacomo

Machevill is a ghost and the play’s narrator, and presumably, he is the embodiment of Niccolò Machiavelli, a deceased Italian diplomat from the 16th century whose name is synonymous with political corruption and godless scheming… read analysis of Machevill

Don Mathias is Katherine’s son and Abigail’s love. Barabas has already promised Mathias Abigail’s hand in marriage, but then Barabas promises Abigail to Don Lodowick, too, in an effort to turn the… read analysis of Don Mathias

Martin Del Bosco is the Vice-Admiral of Spain and Ferneze’s ally. Bosco’s Spanish fleet engages with the Turkish fleet near Malta’s port, and he sinks one of the ships and captures the crew as… read analysis of Martin Del Bosco

The abbess is the head nun at the new convent established in Barabas’s mansion. When Barabas convinces Abigail to join the nunnery under false pretenses, she appeals to the abbess. Ithamore and Barabas repeatedly… read analysis of Abbess

The knight is one of Ferneze’s Maltese officers, and he serves to personify the widespread anti-Semitism and bigotry present in the play, and, Marlowe thus implies, in 16th-century England as well. When Ferneze seizes… read analysis of Knight

Selim-Calymath is the son of the Turkish Empire, and he comes to Malta to collect the delinquent tribute money from Ferneze. Even though Calymath is not authorized to do so, he gives Ferneze 30… read analysis of Selim-Calymath

Katherine is Mathias’s mother, and she serves to personify vengeance and anti-Semitic hate. When Katherine catches Mathias talking to Barabas, she forbids her son to converse with a Jew, and even though Mathias… read analysis of Katherine