The Jew of Malta

by Christopher Marlowe

"The Jew of Malta" by Christopher Marlowe is a play written in 1589 or 1590. It follows Barabas, a wealthy Jewish merchant in Malta who loses everything when the governor seizes his wealth to pay tribute to the Turks. Consumed by revenge, Barabas embarks on a murderous campaign of manipulation and betrayal that spirals into increasingly deadly schemes. Set against Mediterranean power struggles, the play explores religious conflict and moral corruption across faiths, questioning whether any character—Christian, Jewish, or Muslim—truly lives by their professed principles.