What is Machiavellianism? ‘The Jew of Malta as a Machiavellian play?
Describe
Barabas is a true follower of Machiavellianism Or Machiavellian character.
Machiavellianism is “the employment of cunning and duplicity in
statecraft or in general conduct”. The word comes from the Italian Renaissance
diplomat and writer Niccolo Machiavelli who wrote “the Prince” among other
works. In modern psychology, Machiavellianism is one of the dark triad
personalities, characterized by a duplicitous interpersonal style, a cynical
disregard for morality, and a focus on self-interest and personal gain. During
the reading of the play, we find the spirit of Machiavellianism in the
character of Barabas. He is a true follower of Machiavelli and his principles.
So, we can say that “the Jew of Malta” is a Machiavellian play because one of
its characters comes up to the almost all principles of Machiavellianism.
One of the principles of Machiavellianism is to collect money by hook
or by crook. In ‘the Jew of Malta’ we see when the actual play starts, Barabas,
the richest Jew or Malta, sitting in his counting house before heaps of gold.
He is figuring up his profits from the sale of Spanish oils, Greek wines, and
other goods. He hates poverty as he himself says that he prefers to be hated as
a wealthy Jew than a pitied Christian who lives in poverty. He loves
materialism and praises that the Jews are skilled at generating wealth, and gives
examples of successful Jewish businessmen in Greece, Italy, France and in many
other places.
Similarly, Machiavellian only focuses on their own ambition and
interest and prioritizes money and power over relationships. Barabas achieves
this very well when he uses his daughter by suggesting her to be nun for
retrieving his treasure. More, he also makes use of her daughter to take
revenge from Ferneze killing his son, Lodowick who desires to marry Abigail.
For money and his ambition of safety, he poisons his own daughter and the whole
nuns.
Moreover, a lover of Machiavelli lies and deceives when these are
required. Barabas is the finest example of this use. In the whole play, he is
liar and deceiver. He orders Abigail to pretend that she loves Lodowick even
though she and Mathias are in love. When Mathias comes by looking for Abigail,
Barabas tells him Lodowick has been wooing her and to make Mathias jealous, he
adds that Lodowick sends her letters, bracelets and rings etc. Barabas makes Mathias see Abigail and
Lodowick together stealthily, and he goes against Lodowick
in jealousy. After that, he forges two letters – one in the name of Lodowick
and the other in the name of Mathias in which the young men challenge each
other to a duel. Owing to these letters they kill each other. In this way, he
is capable of causing other norm to achieve his means. It is another
characteristic of Machiavellianism.
In addition, Barabas is good at reading social situations and avoids
emotional attachments. He is well aware of political system of his country. He
always controls his emotions. For example, in the beginning of the play, he
declares his strong love for his daughter but at the time of distress he kills
her and becomes happy at her death. Same like, he does not become emotional in
reality before the two priests rather heis very cautiously kills both of them.
A Machiavelliancharacter is not
aware of the consequences of their actions. Barabas also does not know the
result of his actions. To kill Calymath, Barabas calls some carpenters to
construct a trap door and beneath it places a boiling cauldron in which
Calymath is to be fallen. But he does not know Ferneze will turn the tables on
him. Ferneze cuts the cord when Barabas himself is on the trap door as
according to plan, he was to do so for Ferneze not for Barabas.
In short, Barabas fulfills all the characteristics of Machiavellianism
and it can safely be remarked that he is a true Machiavellian. More, in the
prologue of the drama the literary ghost Machiavelli calls him his true
follower. Through the character of Barabas, we can also term this play as
Machiavellian play.
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