SHORT_ANSWERS - #THE_JEW_OF_MALTA_BY_MARLOWE

#SHORT_ANSWERS - 2019

#THE_JEW_OF_MALTA_BY_MARLOWE

Answer the following questions.

(i) Write the names of four plays of Marlowe.
Ans. Marlowe has left us from his short, but brilliant, career seven plays, and in several of them he was a pioneer in that particular genre. His famous plays include; Tamburlaine the Great, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, and The Tragedy of Edward II.
(ii) What is the setting of the play 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. The five acts of the play are set in Malta in 1565, the year that the Ottoman Turks besieged the tiny Mediterranean nation. Besides the main island of Malta, the nation includes four other islands.
(iii) What are the major themes of 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. Hypocrisy, Machiavellian Strategy, revenge, love and avarice, lies and deceit, justice and judgment, wealth, religion, prejudice, perseverance and politics are the major themes of "The Jew of Malta".
(iv) Name the religious groups mentioned in 'The Jew of Malta'.
Ans. The play portrays characters of three religious groups -- Christians, Jews, and Muslim Turks -- in constant enmity with one another.
(v) Define the term 'Machiavellian'.
Ans. "Machiavellian" is a widely-used negative term to characterize unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described in "The Prince". "Machiavellian" is often associated with deceit, deviousness, ambition, and brutality, although Machiavelli likely only used it as stylistic device to gain the reader's attention for his close analysis of the actual techniques used by rulers. Machiavel is a Senecan ghost in "The Jew of Malta".
(vi) What is Malta's political situation in 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. Malta is in a tricky political situation. Even though it is home to a majority Western, Christian population, it lives under shadow of the Turks. To stay safe, Malta has to pay a monetary tribute to the Turks. In exchange for this protection money, the Turks protect them .
(vii) Interpret 'I count religion but a childish toy'.
Ans. This line is from the Prologue spoken by Machiavell in "The Jew of Malta" by Marlowe. In this line, Machiavell denounces religion. He says that religion is nothing but a toy in the hands of religious fundamentalists and priests. It is a tool one uses to manipulate other people. This line also sets the tone of Barabas's actions throughout the rest of the play, as he lies constantly and makes plenty of derogatory comments on Christianity
(viii) Interpret 'Weigh not men, and therefore, not men's words'.
Ans. This line is from the Prologue spoken by Machiavell in "The Jew of Malta" by Marlowe. Machiavell is a symbol of Barabas's philosophy. He says that it is a cynical attitude about not trusting others or what they say. Human worth and words are not important.
(ix) Interpret 'For, so l live, perish may all the world!'
Ans. This line is from Act V spoken by Barabas in "The Jew of Malta" by Marlowe. Barabas plots to undo everything once he is Governor of Malta -- Christians, Turks, anyone in his way. He only cares for his own skin.
(x) Interpret 'Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness'.
Ans. This line is from Act I spoken by Ferneze in "The Jew of Malta" by Marlowe. Ferneze blames Barabas for being rich; it leads others to do wrong, and therefore, it is all his own fault if others take his money from him.
(xi) How the Turkish army is destroyed?
Ans. Barabas secretly makes a deal with Ferneze to kill all of the Turks in Malta in return for a huge sum of money. Barabas' plan works but Ferneze batrays him at the last minute. The Turkish army is destroyed and Barabas is killed in the trap he devised for Calymath.
(xii) Who is Barabas?
Ans. Barabas is the protagonist of the play "The Jew of Malta". He is a wealthy merchant who is unrelenting in his efforts to gain revenge against his enemies. As the prime malefactor in the play, Barabas resorts to deceit, betrayal, sedition, usury, extortion, and murder as means toward his ends.
(xiii) What are the priorities of Barabas?
Ans. Barabas has two priorities: money, and his only daughter, Abigail. Though the priorities of Barabas shift and evolve in the play, his motivations seem consistently threefold; he continues to seek and obtain "Great sums of money, he continues to pursue revenge on Ferneze, and driven by an insatiable desire for mayhem and destruction.
(xiv) Why is Barabas' all property confiscated?
Ans. Ferneze, the governor of Malta, issues a decree ordering the confiscation of half of each Jew's estate to pay tribute to the Turks; if the Jewish property owner refuses, he must become a Christian; if he refuses to become a Christian, he "shall absolutely lose all he has". Having resisted both the confiscations, Barabas loses all he has.
(xv) Why is Barabas impatient with stash of gold?
Ans. Barabas' all property is confiscated by Ferneze except a hidden stash of gold that Barabas hasn't 'fessed up to'. So he is very impatient with stash of gold in his house which has now been turned into a nunnery.