Compare the presentation of Abigail in ‘The Jew of Malta’ and with that of Jessica in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and explain the dramatic purpose they fulfill.

‘Beautiful Abigail and Jessica serve to contrast with the hyperbolic representation of Judaism presented by their fathers.’

Jessica and Abigail both have a variety of different similarities and differences. Both are from wealth obsessed, single parent families that are controlling and manipulative. Their fathers are seen as protagonists throughout both the plays and similarly are both from a Jewish background. This makes the audience prejudge them as inferior characters with possible sinful traits. On the other hand, both are accepted by the remaining characters in which believe in the Christian religion.

As well as similar backgrounds and basic character personalities they also portrait the stereotypical Jewish actions towards situations. In Elizabethan times Jews were discriminated and prejudged in the status focused society. They were accused for stealing, adultery and other Christian sins. In the play, both the father-dependent daughters commit the sin of stealing. Abigail steals from the nunnery to retrieve her fathers’ misplaced wealth. ‘Thus father shall I much dissemble…then father here receive thy happiness.” She describes the money as her fathers ‘happiness.’ This indicates that her reason for completing the sin was to fulfill her fathers’ desire. This shows dramatic purpose because it allows the audience to experience the revelation of loyalty between herself and her father Barabas. A Shakespearean audience would interpret this scene as a negative development of Abigail’s character. She is disrespecting the law and the Christian religion. The audience will begin to associate Abigail with evil, danger and her father. A modern audience will also develop a negative opinion towards Abigail.