Barabas and Shylock against a background of Jewish history in England

This article examines the history of the Jews in England up to and including Elizabethan times in order to add to our understanding of Shakespeare's Shylock. The examination also compares Marlowe's Barabas with the Bard's characterization in order that a fuller dimensionality of the Elizabethan concept might be made manifest. Such an examination should be helpful to those who seek additional information on the proper interpretation of these characters.