Quotes from work
The Jew of Malta

The Jew of Malta

The Jew of Malta is a play by Christopher Marlowe, written in 1589 or 1590. The plot primarily revolves around a Maltese Jewish merchant named Barabas. The original story combines religious conflict, intrigue, and revenge, set against a backdrop of the struggle for supremacy between Spain and the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean that takes place on the island of Malta. There has been extensive debate about the play's portrayal of Jews and how Elizabethan audiences would have viewed it.


Christopher Marlowe photo

“Love me little, love me long.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Ithamore, Act IV. Quoting John Heywood, "Love me litle, love me long," in Proverbes (c. 1538), Part ii, Chapter ii.
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo

“Now will I show myself to have more of the serpent than the dove”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Barabas, Act II, scene iii. Marlowe is referencing Jesus, "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves," in Matthew 10:16.
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)
Context: Now will I show myself to have more of the serpent than the dove; that is, more knave than fool.

Christopher Marlowe photo

“Thou hast committed—
Fornication: but that was in another country;
And besides, the wench is dead.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Friar Barnardine and Barabas, Act IV, scene i
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo

“Religion
Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Barabas, Act I, scene ii
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo

“Things past recovery
Are hardly cured with exclamations.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Barabas, Act I, scene ii
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo

“Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Ferneze, Act I, scene ii
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo
Christopher Marlowe photo

“I count religion but a childish toy,
And hold there is no sin but ignorance.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Machiavel, Prologue
The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

Christopher Marlowe photo

“And thus methinks should men of judgment frame
Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade,
And, as their wealth increaseth, so inclose
Infinite riches in a little room.”

Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta

Barabas, Act I, scene i. Paraphrasing John Heywood, &quot;Here lyeth muche rychnesse in lytell space,&quot; in The Foure PP https://books.google.com/books?id=LbkVAAAAYAAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false (c. 1530). <br class="br">The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

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