The Jew of Malta · Character

Ithamore

A purchased Turkish slave with a confessed history of throat-cutting and arson, who becomes Barabas's eager accomplice until a courtesan's face turns his loyalty.

major

Also known as Barabas Ithamore, gentle Ithamore

First appearance: scene i

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

See Ithamore in scene i Book page

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Ithamore is bought in the slave market for a hundred crowns and immediately trades villainous résumés with his new master, each claiming worse crimes than the other. He carries poison to the nuns, delivers forged challenges, and boasts of his work with a servant's pride, but his weakness is desire: one glimpse of Bellamira and he starts dreaming of buying her with the Jew's gold. His drift from accomplice to liability is the fault line that eventually cracks Barabas's whole scheme.

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See Ithamore in scene i

Character Web

17 connections

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

Relationship types

Professional
Psychological
Friendship
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 Exposition.

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

Barabas
professional · negative
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders. How this plays out →
Abigail
psychological · negative
Pilia-Borza
friendship · negative
Mathias
rivalry · negative
Barabas
professional · negative
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders. How this plays out →
Barabas
professional · negative
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders. How this plays out →
Abigail
psychological · negative
Mathias
rivalry · negative
Pilia-Borza
friendship · negative
Abigail
psychological · negative
Pilia-Borza
friendship · negative

Barabas
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.
Abigail
Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.
Pilia-Borza
Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.
Mathias
Ithamore helps Barabas frame Mathias, leading to Mathias's fatal duel with Lodowick.
Barabas
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.
Barabas
Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.
Abigail
Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.
Mathias
Ithamore helps Barabas frame Mathias, leading to Mathias's fatal duel with Lodowick.
Pilia-Borza
Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.
Abigail
Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.
Pilia-Borza
Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.

Relationship notes

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

See Ithamore in scene i