The Jew of Malta

by

Christopher Marlowe

Selim-Calymath Character Analysis

Selim-Calymath is the son of the Turkish Empire, and he comes to Malta to collect the delinquent tribute money from Ferneze. Even though Calymath is not authorized to do so, he gives Ferneze 30 days to collect the money. Of course, Ferneze betrays Calymath and the Turkish Empire and refuses to pay the money, resulting in a full-scale war that destroys Malta and imprisons Ferneze and his men. Ferneze’s own Machiavellianism and corrupt scheming results in Calymath’s capture, and he manages to free Malta.

Selim-Calymath Quotes in The Jew of Malta

The The Jew of Malta quotes below are all either spoken by Selim-Calymath or refer to Selim-Calymath. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
God and Machiavellianism Theme Icon
).
Act 5, Scene 2 Quotes

And thus far roundly goes the business:
Thus loving neither, will I live with both,
Making a profit of my policy;
And he from whom my most advantage comes,
Shall be my friend.
This is the life we Jews are used to lead;
And reason too, for Christians do the like:
Well, now about effecting this device:
First to surprise great Selim’s soldiers,
And then to make provision for the feast,
Then at one instant all things may be done,
My policy detests prevention:
To what even my secret purpose drives,
I know; and they shall witness with their lives.

Related Characters: Barabas (speaker), Ferneze, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 5 Quotes

Ferneze: Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee,
Accursèd Barabas, base Jew, relent?
No, thus I’ll see thy treachery repaid,
But wish thou hadst behaved thee otherwise.

Barabas: You will not help me then?

Ferneze: No, villain, no.

Barabas: And villains, know you cannot help me now.
Then Barabas breathe forth thy latest fate,
And in the fury of thy torments, strive
To end thy life with resolution:
Know, Governor, ‘twas I that slew thy son;
I framed the challenge that did make them meet:
Know, Calymath, I aimed thy overthrow,
And had I but escaped this stratagem,
I would have brought confusion on you all,
Damned Christians, dogs, and Turkish infidels;
But now begins the extremity of heat
To pinch me with intolerable pangs:
Die life, fly soul, tongue curse thy fill and die!

Related Characters: Barabas (speaker), Ferneze (speaker), Don Lodowick, Don Mathias, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 129-130
Explanation and Analysis:

Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay,
And live in Malta prisoner; for come call the world
To rescue thee, so will we guard us now,
As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry,
Than conquer Malta, or endanger us.
So march away, and let due praise be given
Neither to fate nor fortune, but to heaven.

Related Characters: Ferneze (speaker), Barabas, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 131
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Jew of Malta LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Jew of Malta PDF

Selim-Calymath Quotes in The Jew of Malta

The The Jew of Malta quotes below are all either spoken by Selim-Calymath or refer to Selim-Calymath. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
God and Machiavellianism Theme Icon
).
Act 5, Scene 2 Quotes

And thus far roundly goes the business:
Thus loving neither, will I live with both,
Making a profit of my policy;
And he from whom my most advantage comes,
Shall be my friend.
This is the life we Jews are used to lead;
And reason too, for Christians do the like:
Well, now about effecting this device:
First to surprise great Selim’s soldiers,
And then to make provision for the feast,
Then at one instant all things may be done,
My policy detests prevention:
To what even my secret purpose drives,
I know; and they shall witness with their lives.

Related Characters: Barabas (speaker), Ferneze, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 5 Quotes

Ferneze: Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee,
Accursèd Barabas, base Jew, relent?
No, thus I’ll see thy treachery repaid,
But wish thou hadst behaved thee otherwise.

Barabas: You will not help me then?

Ferneze: No, villain, no.

Barabas: And villains, know you cannot help me now.
Then Barabas breathe forth thy latest fate,
And in the fury of thy torments, strive
To end thy life with resolution:
Know, Governor, ‘twas I that slew thy son;
I framed the challenge that did make them meet:
Know, Calymath, I aimed thy overthrow,
And had I but escaped this stratagem,
I would have brought confusion on you all,
Damned Christians, dogs, and Turkish infidels;
But now begins the extremity of heat
To pinch me with intolerable pangs:
Die life, fly soul, tongue curse thy fill and die!

Related Characters: Barabas (speaker), Ferneze (speaker), Don Lodowick, Don Mathias, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 129-130
Explanation and Analysis:

Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay,
And live in Malta prisoner; for come call the world
To rescue thee, so will we guard us now,
As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry,
Than conquer Malta, or endanger us.
So march away, and let due praise be given
Neither to fate nor fortune, but to heaven.

Related Characters: Ferneze (speaker), Barabas, Selim-Calymath
Page Number: 131
Explanation and Analysis: