The Jewish character of the play 'The Jew of Malta' is -

• The Jew of Malta, in full The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta, five-act tragedy in blank verse by Christopher Marlowe, produced about 1590 and published in 1633.

• In order to raise tribute demanded by the Turks, the Christian governor of Malta seizes half the property of all Jews living in Malta.
- When Barabas, a wealthy Jewish merchant, protests, his entire estate is confiscated.
- Seeking revenge on his enemies, Barabas plots their destruction, but in the end, he is betrayed and dies the death he had planned for his enemies.

• Important characters of The Jew of Malta:
- Barabas (Protagonist),
- Abigail,
- Ithamore,
- Ferneze,
- Machevill,
- Selim-Calymath,
- Katherine,
- Don Mathias, etc.

Barabas
The protagonist of the play. Barabas is a Jewish merchant who only cares for his daughter Abigail and his vast personal fortune. When Ferneze appropriates Barabas's estate to help the government pay Turkish tribute, Barabas is enraged and vows revenge. His clever plots lead to the deaths of many characters, including Abigail and the governor's son. The protagonist is marked as an outsider within Maltese society because of his religion and because of his Machiavellian cunning. However, in many ways Barabas is the least hypocritical character in the play.

Ferneze
Barabas's great enemy and the governor of Malta. Ferneze hides his real motives behind ideals of Christian morality. Ultimately, his role in undermining Barabas and bribing Calymath shows how he uses Machiavellian tactics to his own advantage.

Selim-Calymath
The Turkish leader and son of the Ottoman Emperor. Calymath awards Barabas the governorship of the island following Barabas's help in its capture. Calymath then becomes embroiled in Maltese politics as Barabas and Ferneze scheme against one another. Ultimately, Ferneze's tactics result in Calymath's capture, through which Marlowe shows how a great warlord can be felled by Machiavellian intrigue.

Don Mathias
Abigail's lover and Lodowick's friend. Mathias and Lodowick kill each other in a duel masterminded by Barabas, making Mathias the first innocent victim of Barabas's many plots to exact revenge.


Source: An ABC of English Literature, Dr. M Mofizar Rahman; Encyclopedia of Britannica and sparknotes.com