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The Jew of Malta · Character

Bellamira

A Maltese courtesan who lures the boastful Ithamore into her bed and turns his pillow-talk into a blackmail plot against Barabas.

supporting

Also known as Madam Bellamira, Bellamira Whither, Bellamira Prithee, Bellamira Pilia

First appearance: scene ii

As a supporting figure in The Jew of Malta, Bellamira is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Bellamira writes to Ithamore before she has even met him, drawn by reputation and the promise of profit. She weighs gold lightly and men heavily, kissing Ithamore while tossing his money aside, and her charm makes him eager to confess every crime he knows. Her scheme to bleed Barabas dry sets the trap that exposes the Jew's murders to Ferneze.

See Bellamira in scene iiBook page

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Character Web

17 connections

A slice of how Bellamira sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

PIPilia-BorzaBABarabasITIthamoreMAMathiasABAbigailBEBellamira

Relationship types

  • Romantic
  • Rivalry
  • Other

Character groups

  • Malta's Christian community
  • Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This scene marks the dramatic climax because Ferneze’s flat denial of tribute—“’shalt have no tribute here”—re…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Bellamira in scene ii
See Bellamira in scene ii
Who is Bellamira in The Jew of Malta?