Bellamira Character Analysis in The Jew of Malta

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 she is love with him, too, even though she isn’t, and she and Pilia-Borza easily convince him to betray Barabas and help them extort money out of him in the form of blackmail. Bellamira wins Ithamore over with sex and testaments of love, but she ultimately betrays him when she and Pilia-Borza turn in both Ithamore and Barabas for the murder of Ferneze’s son’s Lodowick. Like many of Marlowe’s characters, Bellamira represents greed and deceitfulness in the form of Machiavellianism and scheming, and her immorality eventually leads to her downfall, as does Pilia-Borza and Ithamore’s immorality. Bellamira is killed, along with Pilia-Borza and Ithamore, after Barabas disguises himself as a French musician and delivers them a poisoned bouquet of flowers.

Bellamira Character Timeline in The Jew of Malta

The timeline below shows where the character Bellamira appears in The Jew of Malta. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Bellamira, a local prostitute, enters and laments the state of her business since the Turkish fleet... (full context)

Pilia-Borza sees Ithamore approach and tells Bellamira not to look at the slave. Bellamira and Pilia-Borza rush off, but not before Ithamore... (full context)

Bellamira and Pilia-Borza enter, and Bellamira asks if he delivered the letter to Ithamore. Pilia-Borza confirms... (full context)

...a bird. A strange man with a mustache gave Ithamore a letter from the beautiful Bellamira, but Ithamore can’t imagine what she sees in him, a lowly slave. She claims to... (full context)

As Ithamore approaches, Bellamira warmly welcomes him, calling him her “sweet love.” Ithamore is suddenly worried about the way... (full context)

Pilia-Borza says Ithamore can give Bellamira all Barabas’s wealth, but Ithamore assures him it is impossible—Barabas buries his wealth in an... (full context)

...expose Barabas’s crimes. He signs the letter, and Pilia-Borza exits to deliver it. Alone with Bellamira, she asks Ithamore to “lie in her lap” and promises to marry him. (full context)

...quickly pens the letter, and Pilia-Borza again exits to deliver it. Alone again, Ithamore gives Bellamira the 10 crowns. She tosses the money aside and kisses him. (full context)

...enters reading Ithamore’s letter. He can’t believe the slave is demanding 300 crowns. Barabas knows Bellamira is to blame, and now he must slit Ithamore’s throat as well. Even worse is... (full context)

...gold. As Pilia-Borza exits, Barabas knows he must do something, so he decides to visit Bellamira’s house in disguise and kill her, Ithamore, and Pilia-Borza. (full context)

Pilia-Borza enters with Bellamira and Ithamore. The three are drinking and celebrating, and Bellamira and Ithamore are professing their... (full context)

Bellamira is surprised and says that she did not think Barabas was brave enough to commit... (full context)

Suddenly, Barabas enters with a lute, disguised as a French musician. Bellamira immediately asks him to play. “Must tuna my lute for sound,” Barabas says, “twang twang... (full context)

...Selim-Calymath and the Turks have come, and they will take Malta or die trying. Suddenly, Bellamira and Pilia-Borza enter, asking to speak to the governor. Ferneze turns them away, calling Bellamira... (full context)

Ferneze says he must have proof of Barabas’s guilt, and Bellamira tells him that Barabas’s slave, Ithamore, will confess to every murder. Ferneze orders his men... (full context)

...is in jail, awaiting trial. Suddenly, and officer bursts in and tells Ferneze that Ithamore, Bellamira, Pilia-Borza, and Barabas are dead. Ferneze is shocked, and Bosco notes how suspicious the timing... (full context)