Set in Malta, a European island off the coast of Italy, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe follows a rich Jewish merchant, Barabas, who enjoys the privileges that his wealth allows. When the governor of Malta, Ferneze, summons Barabas to his office, Barabas is intrigued and complies immediately. However, when the governor tells Barabas of a deal he is keeping with the Turks, Barabas is appalled. Ferneze demands that Barabas gives up half of his wealth in order to help the government pay tribute to the Turks, but the merchant refuses to cooperate, protesting the injustice. Filled with anger, Ferneze then decides to seize all of Barabas’ assets, including his home. Unable to dispute the decision, Barabas leaves to begin plotting his revenge. First, he is determined to recover the treasure he has hidden around his home, which Ferneze turned into a convent to mock Barabas’ own religious beliefs. After his plan to steal back some of the hidden fortune in his house is successful, Barabas begins to enact his revenge. Using his daughter as a pawn, Barabas promises to marry her to two men. As Barabas continues his cunning scheme to harm Ferneze, a chain of tragedies ensues, involving manipulation, murder, and even the threat of war. Christopher Marlowe’s The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta was an immediate success following its first performance in 1592. Compelled by the drama, characterization and the complex themes of religion, class, capitalism, and prejudice, audiences have been invested in Marlowe’s tragedy for centuries. This edition of The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe’s work is preserved.

First performed by Shakespeare’s rivals in the 1590s, Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta was a trend-setting, innovative play whose black comedy and final tragic irony illuminate the darker regions of the Elizabethan cultural imagination. Although Jews were banished from England in 1291, the Jew in the form of Barabas, the play’s protagonist, returns on the stage to embody and to challenge the dramatic and cultural anti-Semitic stereotypes out of which he is constructed. The result is a theatrically sophisticated but deeply unsettling play whose rich cultural significance extends beyond the early modern period to the present day. The introduction and historical documents in this edition provide a rich context for the world of the play’s composition and production, including materials on Jewishness and anti-Semitism, the political struggles over Malta, and Christopher Marlowe’s personal and political reputation.

This book explores responses to The Merchant of Venice by Jewish writers, critics, theater artists, thinkers, religious leaders and institutions.

The Jew of Malta, written around 1590, can present a challenge for modern audiences. Hugely popular in its day, the play swings wildly and rapidly in genre, from pointed satire, to bloody revenge tragedy, to melodramatic intrigue, to dark farce and grotesque comedy. Although set in the Mediterranean island of Malta, the play evokes contemporary Elizabethan social tensions, especially the highly charged issue of London's much-resented community of resident merchant foreigners. Barabas, the enormously wealthy Jew of the play's title, appears initially victimized by Malta's Christian Governor, who quotes scripture to support the demand that Jews cede their wealth to pay Malta's tribute to the Turks. When he protests, Barabas is deprived of his wealth, his means of livelihood, and his house, which is converted to a nunnery. In response to this hypocritical extortion, Barabas launches a horrific (and sometimes hilarious) course of violence that goes well beyond revenge, using murderous tactics that include everything from deadly soup to poisoned flowers. The play's sometimes complex treatment of anti-Semitism and its relationship to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice remain matters of continuing scholarly reflection. This new edition is expertly edited with an accompanying introduction that addresses issues of performance, cultural and historical context, interpretation and the key themes explored by the play. Arden Early Modern Drama editions offer the best in contemporary scholarship, providing a wealth of helpful and incisive commentary and guiding the reader to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the play. This edition provides: A clear and authoritative text Detailed on-page commentary notes A comprehensive, illustrated introduction to the play's historical, cultural and performance contexts A bibliography of references and further reading

Christopher Marlowe was the most successful dramatist of his time, his untimely death cutting short a career that may well have rivalled Shakespeare's. His four major works (Doctor Faustus, Edward II, The Jew of Malta and Tamburlaine) are remarkable pieces of theatre, daring explorations of themes such as the nature of kingship, salvation and damnation, sexuality and ethnic prejudice. This book looks in depth at extracts from each of the plays, exploring them in parallel to uncover key concerns, including heroes and anti-heroes, gender and power and politics. As well as guiding readers in an understanding of the place of these issues in their Elizabethan context, and inviting them to consider their resonance today, the book looks in depth at Marlowe's style: his use of rhythm, the complexities and richness of his poetry, and his evolving development of 'character'. Particular attention is given throughout to the plays in performance.