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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Act 1, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Fruit and Religion:
Throughout The Jew of Malta, fruit or harvest is equated with a kind of enlightenment or moral achievement, particularly in religious contexts. This motif is common in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible, representing material and spiritual wealth. In Act 1, Barabas claims that Christianity lacks "fruit":
Rather had I a Jew be hated thus,
Than hated in a Christian poverty:
For I can see no fruits in all their faith.
In this context, the "fruits" of faith take on multiple meanings. For Barabas, Christianity does not produce spiritual guidance or enlightenment, and it also doesn't produce monetary wealth or prosperity, which is Barabas's clear priority. He directly links the fervency of his religious beliefs with material benefit. This connection is further solidified in Act 2, Scene 3, as Barabas and Lodowick discuss the seizure of Barabas's wealth and property:
Barabas: Good sir,
Your father has deserved it at my hands,
Who, of mere charity and Christian truth,
To bring me to religious purity, [...]
Seized all I had, and thrust me out o' doors [...]
Lodowick: No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it.
Barabas: Ay, but, my lord, the harvest is far off.
In this passage, Lodowick and Barabas both reference fruit, but they do so under disparate assumptions of what that means. When Lodowick speaks of Barabas's soul reaping the fruit of the governor's actions, he is implying that Barabas will be spiritually enriched by a lack of worldly possessions. Barabas, on the other hand, claims that the "harvest" of this fruit is far off: in his mind, fruit is associated with material wealth, which he claims will be difficult to rebuild because the governor has seized all of his assets.
Related Themes:
Act 2, Scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Fruit and Religion:
Throughout The Jew of Malta, fruit or harvest is equated with a kind of enlightenment or moral achievement, particularly in religious contexts. This motif is common in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible, representing material and spiritual wealth. In Act 1, Barabas claims that Christianity lacks "fruit":
Rather had I a Jew be hated thus,
Than hated in a Christian poverty:
For I can see no fruits in all their faith.
In this context, the "fruits" of faith take on multiple meanings. For Barabas, Christianity does not produce spiritual guidance or enlightenment, and it also doesn't produce monetary wealth or prosperity, which is Barabas's clear priority. He directly links the fervency of his religious beliefs with material benefit. This connection is further solidified in Act 2, Scene 3, as Barabas and Lodowick discuss the seizure of Barabas's wealth and property:
Barabas: Good sir,
Your father has deserved it at my hands,
Who, of mere charity and Christian truth,
To bring me to religious purity, [...]
Seized all I had, and thrust me out o' doors [...]
Lodowick: No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it.
Barabas: Ay, but, my lord, the harvest is far off.
In this passage, Lodowick and Barabas both reference fruit, but they do so under disparate assumptions of what that means. When Lodowick speaks of Barabas's soul reaping the fruit of the governor's actions, he is implying that Barabas will be spiritually enriched by a lack of worldly possessions. Barabas, on the other hand, claims that the "harvest" of this fruit is far off: in his mind, fruit is associated with material wealth, which he claims will be difficult to rebuild because the governor has seized all of his assets.
Related Themes:
