# Ithamore — The Jew of Malta character guide

> Ithamore in The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Barabas Ithamore, gentle Ithamore

**First appearance:** 0007-scene-i

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Barabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/barabas)

_professional_

Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.

### [Abigail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/abigail)

_psychological_

Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.

### [Pilia-Borza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/pilia_borza)

_friendship_

Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.

### [Mathias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/mathias)

_rivalry_

Ithamore helps Barabas frame Mathias, leading to Mathias's fatal duel with Lodowick.

### [Barabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/barabas)

_professional_

Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.

### [Barabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/barabas)

_professional_

Barabas purchases Ithamore as a slave and uses him as a henchman for his murders.

### [Abigail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/abigail)

_psychological_

Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.

### [Mathias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/mathias)

_rivalry_

Ithamore helps Barabas frame Mathias, leading to Mathias's fatal duel with Lodowick.

### [Pilia-Borza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/pilia_borza)

_friendship_

Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.

### [Abigail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/abigail)

_psychological_

Ithamore observes and later betrays Abigail, serving as a tool in Barabas's manipulation of her.

### [Pilia-Borza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/pilia_borza)

_friendship_

Ithamore and Pilia-Borza become co-conspirators in blackmailing and betraying Barabas.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters/ithamore
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jew_of_malta_se/characters