Barabas as a Tragic Hero in The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe

 

THE JEW OF MALTA

Barabas – A Villain or Hero?

INTRODUCTION:

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) is the most dazzling star in the firmament of English literature. He has been hailed as the head of University Wits and the father of English tragedy. Known by his four great tragedies, he has influenced a host of playwrights including William Shakespeare. Marlowe has served English drama by providing four great teagic heroes, namely, Barabas, Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine and Edward II.

Barabas, the Jew as presented in ‘The Jew of Malta’ has become an immortal character in English drama. He exhibits all features of a perfect tragic hero. He is a complex character. Some see him as a villain, while others see him as a tragic hero.

BARABAS A HERO OR VILLAIN?

There is no doubt that Barabas is a villain in many ways. He is greedy, manipulative, and murderous. He is also irreligious and cynical. Barabas says,

"I count religion but a childish toy,

And hold there's no such thing in heaven above."

He plans the death of many characters including his own daughter Abigail. Over-powered by his ambition to be wealthy and powerful, he traps and cheats all those who come on his way.

BARABAS AS A SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER:

Though there are these villainous traits in the character of Barabas, Marlowe has made him a sympathetic character too. There are also elements of tragic hero in his character which arouse pity and fear. He is a victim of circumstances, prejudice and discrimination, and he is driven to his crimes by a desire for revenge.

 

1.  In the first act of the play, Barabas is robbed of his wealth by the Christian authorities in Malta. This act of injustice sets him on a path of revenge. He plots to kill the Governor of Malta, Ferneze, and his son Lodowick. He also murders his own daughter, Abigail, when she converts to Christianity. One can justify these villainous acts of Barabas by saying that Barabas becomes a victim of religious conflicts and thus commits these crimes.

 

2.  Barabas's plans to kill Ferneze only because he was compelled to pay heavy taxes. Half of his property was seized by the governor, Ferneze. He is betrayed by his own slave, Ithamore, and he is eventually executed by the Christians. However, even in his death, Barabas retains some of his dignity. He refuses to repent, and he dies defiantly, proclaiming his own greatness. This makes him a hero in the eyes of the audience.

 

BARABAS AS A TRAGIC HERO:

Let’s examine Barabas as a tragic hero considering the common features of tragic heroes found in English drama.

 

1.  Noble birth or status: Tragic heroes are often from high social standing, which makes their downfall more tragic. They are often kings, queens, princes, or other members of the nobility. Barabas too belongs to one of the wealthiest Jews of Malta. He is the richest merchant of Malta.

2.  Fatal flaw or Hamartia: This is a flaw in their character that ultimately leads to their downfall. One of Barabas's fatal flaws is his over confidence. He is so confident in his own cunning and intelligence that he believes he can outsmart anyone. This leads him to make rash decisions and to underestimate his opponents. For example, he believes that he can trick Ferneze, the Governor of Malta, into letting him keep his wealth. However, Ferneze sees through Barabas's plan, and Barabas is eventually forced to flee Malta.

Another fatal flaw of Barabas is his greed. He is obsessed with money and power, and he is willing to do anything to acquire them. This leads him to commit some truly horrific acts, such as murdering his own daughter, Abigail. Barabas's greed ultimately leads to his downfall, as he is betrayed by his own slave, Ithamore, and executed by the Christians.

3.  Reversal of fortune or Peripetia: Tragic heroes pass from prosperity to adversity, from happiness to sorrow. Barabas, the richest Jew of Malta is presented in good days of richness in the beginning of the play and loses his wealth at the end. This reversal of situation too makes him a tragic hero.

 

4.  Recognition or Anagnorisis: Most tragic heroes realize their mistakes and come to terms with their fate. This moment of recognition often leads to a change in the tragic hero's behavior, but it is often too late to prevent their downfall. Barabas too realizes his mistakes at the end and he suffers a lot but does not repent which make him a true hero in the eyes of the audience.

In the final scene of the play, Barabas is about to be executed. He gives a speech in which he acknowledges that he has made mistakes, but he also insists that he has never done anything wrong.

Barabas refuses to repent, but he also acknowledges that he is going to hell. This is a moment of recognition for Barabas, and it shows that he is starting to understand the consequences of his actions.

5.  Suffering: The tragic hero's downfall is often a violent and bloody one. Barabas suffers at the end of the play in a number of ways.

1. Physically: He is boiled alive in a cauldron, which is a slow and painful death.
2. Mentally: He is aware of his own impending death and the fact that he will be going to hell. This causes him to experience fear, regret, and despair.
3. Emotionally: He is separated from his daughter, Abigail, who he murdered. He also loses his wealth and status, which were important to him.
4. Spiritually: He is rejected by God and condemned to hell. This is a significant loss for Barabas, who was a devout Jew before his downfall.

CONCLUSION:

Thus, Barabas is a well-developed and complex character who can be seen as a tragic hero. He is a victim of circumstance, but he is also responsible for his own downfall because of his mistakes. Barabas arouses the emotions of pity and fear among the spectators as he holds all common qualities of a tragic hero.

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