The Jew of Malta

A major influence on Shakespeare s The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta is one of the earliest plays to broach the subjects of religious intolerance and faith-based conflict. It tells the story of Barbaras, a Jewish merchant whose wealth is seized by Malta s Christian governor. In an attempt to regain his wealth, Barbaras is dragged into a tangled web of conspiracy and betrayal that ultimately costs him his daughter, as well as his own life. Touching upon the tension between the Christians and Jews of Spain and the Ottoman Turks, The Jew of Malta remains an intriguing and informative read.