How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
Will you then steal my goods?
Is theft the ground of your religion? (1.2.94-5)
Here we are again with Barabas's idea that Christians basically talk all day about how good they are and then turn around and do the exact opposite. To Barabas, Christians are inherently predatory. Like sharks. Or housecats.
Quote #8
What? Bring you Scripture to confirm your wrongs?
Preach me not out of my possessions.
Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are.
But say the tribe that I descended of
Were all in general cast away for sin,
Shall I be tried for their transgression? (1.2.110-15)
Barabas points out that, even though Ferneze's using the bad rep the Jews get from the Bible to justify his actions, he's really just stealing. Hello, hypocrisy. Even though Barabas claims, reasonably, that he shouldn't be punished for what the Jews did thousands of years ago, he loves pointing the finger at Christians for their own ancient indiscretions.
Quote #9
A counterfeit profession is better
Than unseen hypocrisy (1.2.289-90)
According to Barabas, it's okay for Abigail to pretend to be a Christian and know she's pretending than to truly convert to Christianity while acting, blindly, in an un-Christian way. While Ferneze is probably Barabas's star example of a hypocrite, do you think he's unaware of his own hypocrisy? Further, do you think that this statement is affirmed or undercut by the way the play ends?