How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
ITHAMORE: I am gone.
Pay me my wages, for my work is done.Exit Ithamore
BARABAS: I'll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore. (3.4.114-16)
Here's a weird one, Shmoopers—why on earth would Barabas ever want to seek revenge against Ithamore? Not only has Ithamore done nothing wrong to Barabas (uh…yet, anyway), Ithamore's actually on his side. You might want to think about this quote alongside the famous "so I live, perish may all the world" (5.2.10) quote. What does these lines say about Barabas's sense of vengeance?
Quote #8
I'll be revenged on this accursèd town,
For by my means Calymath shall enter in.
I'll help to slay their children and their wives,
To fire the churches, pull their houses down
Take my goods, too, and seize upon my lands.
I hope to see the Governor a slave
And, rowing in a galley, whipped to death. (5.1.62-8)
Well, this is interesting. Barabas is no longer seeking vengeance against a people or group of people, but rather the civic entity of Malta; the town itself. Why does he want to take down the city? Wouldn't that put an end to his sweet trading deals?
Quote #9
Oh, villain, heaven will be revenged on thee. (5.2.26)
Malta's been betrayed to the Turks and all the Christians are enslaved, so yeah, Ferneze's plenty unhappy. His response to the situation, though, isn't "I hate you and I'm going to get you back," it's more along the lines of "this isn't the way things should be, so heaven (the ordering principle of the universe) will punish you." Of course, it turns out that he does get revenge. (If you want something done right …)