Beyond Experiential Learning

The internship is not all about learning or training; it can go far beyond that to touch us personally. Sometimes we do relate to the mission of the institution we are working for. At other times, we tend to make some comparisons or link our work to the real life and even notice things that can affect us personally.

 Actually, interning at an organization the size of the eldercare Workforce Alliance is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, to say the least. One aspect that touched me personally is the mission of the alliance and the 30 organizations it encompasses. In the United States, it is know that Baby Boomers are turning 65 soon. As such, a well-trained, highly qualified workforce is needed to provide the necessary care to those soon-to-be older adults, and herein the alliance step to take the necessary actions. Apparently, this is a farsighted vision to solve a problem that will loom in the horizon soon. It is better to be ready to sort out an issue before its very occurrence that to wait till it takes place. This technique allows no room for band-aids or quick fixes that exacerbate the problem rather than solve it.

                Interestingly enough, I have been working there for about a month and I realized that the first and foremost trait that can bring about success at work is interpersonal communication. Exquisite communication skills give rise to having connections and acquaintances. As a matter of fact, connections are rather salient, can open many locked doors and a good way for job referrals. In the current job market, who you know is very much important than what you know, or so I think.  Sometimes they can substitute a resume if you are going to work with them or for the institutions they are employed in. They can be references in the resume too.

Additionally, I have learnt a great deal about the health system and Obamacare in the Unites States, which is utterly different from the subsidized decrepit health system in my home country, Egypt. Seniors here receive decent end-of-life care and treatment and have some organizations to let their voices heard. Apparently, it seems we in Egypt are very lagged behind and have a long way to go to come to par with such advanced countries as the United States.

Moreover, I realized during my job search that the location of the internship was one of the determining factors that encouraged me to apply for some internship opportunities of my interest. Commuting is sometimes time-consuming. I just do not want to waste my time, money and efforts to commute to and from the internship workplace. That does not necessarily mean that I am a couch potato or afraid to get out of my shell to explore the world around me.

To sum up, the internship added a lot to my character, mentality and skill set. I am sure it will shape my career path and will definitely have substantial repercussions on me later on in my life.

To Intern is to Learn

The internship is an experiential learning experience and a preparation for the real world. Accordingly, to intern is to learn and gain further skills. To put it differently, my experiential work is meant to hone my skills and allow me to utilize the arsenal of skills I already have. This will make me well prepared for the real world. Personally, I can tell that my internship at the Eldercare Workforce Alliance is a fabulous resource for learning. Thus far, I have learnt how to use Hootsuite, MS Publisher and Google search techniques. I do partake in developing the monthly newsletter and managing the social media outlets for the organization. The workplace is very dynamic and fast-paced, and my manager is literally a workaholic. Although my manager is very lenient and supportive, she expects me to do a lot of tasks in short spans of time. I greatly appreciate her crystal clear instructions and detailed feedback.

My daily work duties do include searching for germane health articles and aging-related news stories. This makes me pay due heed to details, not to mention the fact that it enables me to have up-to-date exposure to the health news from multiple of sources. Sometimes I tend to read other news stories that interest me. Being in a position that is meant to spread the word about the work and events of all organizations affiliated to the alliance, I do keep an eye on all social media as well as the website of these organizations. Additionally, drafting and editing press releases and brief issues is an integral part of my job. My journalism expertise has proved to be a great asset for me in this regard.

At another level, the monthly collaborative conference calls are very salient and added a lot to my skill set. These calls bring together the staff of most, if not all, employees of such organizations to keep them updated about the new policies, let them share all the events or information with other employees and listen to their suggestions and feedback about our work. For the most part, this is an evaluation of the work I am doing and of the team I am a member in.

The best part of my internship is attending some hearings at the US Senate every now and then, let alone meeting senators' key staff and being in direct contact with them. This is a great way for networking and advocacy.  Furthermore, the alliance will host a conference on the 30^th of October that will be attended by some senators and people of higher ranks in the Washington, DC area. As a policy and communications intern, I work closely with other team members to plan for this briefing and to do all what it takes to make it a big success.

In brief, it is quite safe to say that the internship is a miniature version of a real world job. As such, having an internship that is learning-oriented and skills-focused can lend itself to the success of one's future career. 

My Workplace: An Outfit That Does Fit

Hard work always pays off, and exerting strenuous efforts always bears fruits. Given the considerable efforts I put into my internship search, I was lucky enough to find an amazing internship even sooner than I expected. My internship search could not have been any easier or faster. Currently, I am interning at the Eldercare Workforce Alliance in Washington, DC and the people there are very professional, helpful and amazing.

At the beginning, I was concerned about the nature of the internship and it may not be interesting or related to what I am studying. Yet, my professor advised me that there will be a lot of thing you can gain out of it. He always says, "The internship is what you make out of it." On the first day at the internship workplace, I was really delighted that the internship does relate to my studies and we will attend some hearings and be involved in politics in some way. Hopefully, they granted me a meager travel stipend, made me business cards, provided me with a separate office and bought a laptop in order for me to incur the burden of bringing mine. However, they are very serious and even gave me tasks to do from day one. I thought the first day is only a chance to meet and greet.

On the second day, we went for lunch together and showed me the whole place so that I can move around easily. They also asked me to have an internship that will have my name on, namely something that I can take for my potential employer. They are very cognizant of the fact that my studies take precedence over my internship and reiterated that several times. I also got to know staff members from the other organizations located in the same premises. In a nutshell, my internship has been a real success so far and every week I learn something new.

However, this success could not have been materialized without the receptive nature of people on campus. My academic advisor assisted me immensely especially in sorting out any issues as they arise. Actually, she spared no efforts to help me issue a work authorization and fill out the Experiential Learning Form (ELF). As for my professor, he was really helpful and patient with me. He was, and still is, in close touch to make sure I am on the right track in my internship search. The weekly meetings helped me catch up all what I have missed during the first two weeks of the semester. I am extremely appreciative of his valuable insights and feedback. My class mates are awesome and they are very supportive and friendly. When we share our experiences in class, I really get to know a lot of things and venues where I can intern for next spring semester.

Now I feel I am in a better position to find a good internship for my spring semester since I have the tools, documents and capabilities to embark on my early search for an internship in November. In short, I am well-equipped not only to secure an internship but to hunt a job as well.

The Internship Search Journey: Mission Accomplished

Finding a suitable internship is a task of gargantuan proportions. However, owning to being in Washington, DC, I was sure that I can find a very interesting internship in a very short span of time. Thanks to the existence of several international organizations here in DC, my internship search couldn't have been any easier.

Honestly, I cannot deny the fact that my late arrival preoccupied me for a quite while but when I finally made it safe and sound to the US, the land of opportunities, I had so much on my plate; a myriad of belated assignment, an internship to secure and a new lieu to adapt to. Hopefully, my first week on campus couldn’t have been any better. Thanks to the awesome people who are friendly in nature, I was able to adjust and tour the city, find an internship and feel at home in no time. Surprisingly, I did not suffer from a jet lag or feel alienated in Washington DC. My professors were very patient and helpful. My search for the internship honed my skills and was a great way for me to get out of my comfort zone and go out to see the world.

Anyhow, the day I stepped a foot on the soil of the United States, I knew that there are some challenges await me. Yet the internships interviews were on the top of my agenda. In a matter of days, I went through many interviews and realized that the questions are almost the same. However, I learnt some lessons and got to know the city. In the US, to be on time is to be late, but in Egypt, it is always better late than nothing. The only interview I missed was due to latency. The internship was in Friendship Heights at 1:30 PM and unfortunately I could not make it on time and I found the office closed. I tried to schedule another appointment but the vacancy has been filled for some reason. Anyhow, I have learnt a lesson. Since then, I am doing my utmost to be always on time.

On the other hand, I also was accepted at the Commercial and Economic Office at the Egyptian Embassy here in Washington DC. All the staff there are super friendly and reassured me that I will not do that much work and the tasks are easy to handle. We even conducted the interview in Arabic, my mother tongue, and I also felt the business sector has little to do with what I am studying in the Washington Semester Program. It is worth mentioning that the interview process allowed me to know some people there. I am still in contact with them up to the moment. However, I wanted my internship to be a challenge conducive to hands-on experiences and substantial skills. I was also interested to intermingle with American people and experience a new diverse culture that is totally different from my own.

In short, I did all what it takes to search for an internship, making optimal use of all resources available. I used social media, the AU Internship Web and other website such as indeed.com and idealist.org. I read some job hunting books and used the book entitled "How to write Anything." to write my resume and cover letter. In a matter of days, I landed an amazing internship in DC area that is not that far from where I live and now I love it to the full.

Internship Search from Afar

Due to some visa processing issues, I had to arrive late and literally miss the first three weeks of the fall semester. With that being said, I had to secure an internship either when I was in Egypt or once I made it safe and sound to Washington, DC. Hence, I started working on my resume and cover letter. Read some career development books on job hunting and how to write the resume and the cover letter. In no time, I wrote my resume and cover letter and did my utmost to tailor them for every internship vacancy I am applying for. I attended a virtual information session when I was in Egypt in which they stressed out the importance of conducting an early search for an internship. They elaborated on how to search and provided me with three valuable resources, namely indeed.com, Idealist.org and the AU Internship Web. At the time, my account on the Internship Web was not activated so I had to rely mainly on the other two and they worked miracles.

To get the ball rolling, I applied to some openings of my choice that I felt pertinent to my field of study and of great interest to me. Some of these places contacted me shortly after that, and we arranged a time to have an overseas phone interview. Interestingly enough, they did not mind the idea that I am an international student who is still in his home country. To put it differently, don't ever think that being an international student is a downside. Actually, it could be a merit since many of these organizations are either multi-national or international. You need also to bear in mind that the internship is no more than an experiential training. You will also find someone who gives you feedback and explains things clearly to you as I will elaborate on later in my blog.

Before the interview, I made sure to read through the internship posting, my resume and cover letter. As the saying goes, "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail," I can tell that reparation is salient, very salient indeed. Most, if not all, the interview questions revolved around my resume with special focus on my educational background, work experience and the extracurricular activities. Hopefully, I went through two interviews and arranged some face-to-face interviews with some other institutions and organizations. They were more than happy to wait till I arrive to Washington, DC.

At the time, I could not have access to some resources such as the career services, the Internship Bazaar and job fairs, just to name a few. I know that every university has a career center and the American University is no different. The career center at AU helps the students step by step with their resume, cover letter, interview and even tips for succeeding at the job in question. Additionally, they held many recruitment events, one-on-one meetings and information sessions to help student land an internship. The only thing I could do at the time was to read through the multiple resources and information on the AU Career Web.

One of the most important events that I missed was the Internship Bazaar held on August 25^th, namely more than 15 days before my arrival. I am sure it was a great opportunity to meet several employers face to face, to get exposure to different internship places, and to build long-term rapport with them.

Anyhow, I have learnt that I should never give up at all. I just need to do my part and God the Almighty will take care of the rest.

A Semester to Remember

Washington, DC has a lot to offer since it is the emblem of diversity and the home for a myriad of national, multinational and international institutions from all over the whole world. Thus the Washington Semester Program at the American university is a great turning point in my life. Actually, it is the best thing happened to me in my entire life. Unlike other traditional courses, the Washington Semester Program encompasses a seminar track, an internship and an elective research class. Accordingly, I am determined to make optimal use of every single moment of my time is Washington, DC.  Honestly, I want it to be the semester of my life. Hereunder I will write posts about my experience in searching for an internship and the skills I gained and developed as a result.

Personally, I firmly believe that theoretical study is not enough, and the practical training is of great significance. With that being said, the internship is literally my favorite part since it is a practical study conducive to hands-on experience and marketable skills, or so I think. What I like about having a good relevant internship is the idea that it is enables me to put all what I have learnt in class into practice and to know how the work milieu in the United States looks like. This will avail me immensely in my academic studies as well as in my future career. It will give me a golden opportunity to try out some jobs until I ultimately settle for my ideal career. Before my arrival, I was really excited to indulge actively in the American fast-paced workplace and wanted to have a motivating internship that is not only relevant to my major but will enhance my future career as well. It is, therefore, a good way for networking with professionals and politicians from all over the world. As such, the internship per se is a resume builder and a vehicle for a well-paying career.

Communications and journalism combined with political science have always been my cup of tea for as long as I can remember.  Accordingly, I chose the 'peace and conflict resolution in the Middle East and beyond' track in the first semester and the journalism track for the spring semester. My overriding concern back then was to secure an appropriate internship at the earliest opportunity, and this is what triggered me to embark on the internship search journey right away. In the following posts, I will shed some light on the ups and downs of my internship search journey. So stay tuned.

The pyramids … the emblem of ancient Egypt

             Have you ever heard about pyramids in Egypt? Have you ever watched them on T.V. or on the internet? Have you ever been to Egypt to visit the pyramids? Maybe one day you will do. Today we will learn about the history of the pyramids; who built them, when they were built, how they were built and why. Pay attention because there will be a quiz at the end.

Who built the pyramids at Giza and when?

The age of pyramid-building in Egypt began about 2900 BC. The Great Pyramid was built by the king of the fourth Dynasty Khufu, known also as Cheops by Greek historians. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres and its sides were over 755 feet long. It originally stood over 481 feet high; today it is 450 feet high. Scientists estimate that its stone blocks average over two tons apiece, with the largest weighing as much as fifteen tons each. Two other major pyramids were built, for Khufu's son, King Khafre (Chephren), and a successor of Khafre, Menkaure (Mycerinus).

Why were the pyramids built?

The ancient Egyptians believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world.  The mummified body of the king was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife. They built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes.Pharaohs traditionally began building their pyramids as soon as they took the throne. The pharaoh would first establish a committee composed of an overseer of construction, a chief engineer and an architect. The pyramids were usually placed on the western side of the Nile because the pharaoh’s soul was meant to join with the sun disc during its descent before continuing with the sun in its eternal round. They thought that the sun ‘dies’ on the western horizon every night. However, after it became clear that the pyramids did not provide protection for the mummified bodies of the kings but were obvious targets for grave robbers; later kings were buried in hidden tombs cut into rock cliffs. Although the magnificent pyramids did not protect the bodies of the Egyptian kings who built them, the pyramids have served to keep the names and stories of those kings alive to this day.

How were the pyramids built?

The outlines of the pyramid were measured and marked in the desert sand. Then the building began. Large blocks of stone were cut from quarries nearby. They were dragged by groups of men across the desert to the site of the pyramid and set in place. Most of the workers were farmers who worked on building the pyramid during the flood season when their fields were under water. After the first level of blocks was in place, the workers built ramps of mud brick, limestone chips and clay. The workers dragged the large stones up the ramps to build the next level of the pyramid. When the pyramid was almost finished, a special block covered in shining metal (either gold or electrum) was placed on the top of the pyramid. The pyramid was originally encased in smooth, white limestone that must have gleamed in the scorching Egyptian sun.  The blocks were trimmed to make the outside of the pyramid smooth.The two deciding factors when choosing a building site were its orientation to the western horizon where the sun set and the proximity to Memphis, the central city of ancient Egypt.

Now you know that the three largest Pyramids were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom around the year 2900 BC as burial places for pharaohs. They were built by Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure respectively. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the ‘Great Pyramid’.

Teachers Are Generation Builders

Teachers per se are usually seen as leaders who shape the future of their students as potters shape clay with their hands. Their role is extremely crucial as it sets the path for their lives and paves the way for developing their personalities. Their encouragement, hard work and personal traits can, overtly or covertly, nurture the character of their students to greater extent. They can, albeit unknowingly, inspire students, making ever-lasting impressions that propel them forward to reach their potentials. However, in some cases, they could be a reason to severely ruin their lives. Hence, their role is salient and crucial, especially during the students’ tender ages. Being educators give them the honor of sharing the responsibility of bringing up generations after generations. On balance, teachers have either positive or negative impacts on their students that can define their prospective lives.

           “She [the teacher] moved me from the back of the room to the front seat by her desk,” narrates Santiago who is a primary student. A tiny act like this made a big difference in her life; she thought that she was doing well and mostly she was the best. This is in part fuel her self-confidence. She also liked her teacher as well as English composition, which she “found appealing.” By the same token, another student, Eva Hoffman, described her teaches as “a kindly looking woman who tries to give us reassuring glances.” This pacified her and her sister and somehow made them feel that they were in a place to which they belong. She even helped them return home by writing them a sign that carried their address. Their overriding worry was their new names that significantly affected their self-image, which made them feel “strangers” to themselves. Both Eva and Esmeralda remembered every nook and cranny of their first day at school as well as the treatment and attitudes that they have observed at the time. 

Bloom Wherever You Are Planted

        Have you ever had a friend or a role model that left a wide gap behind when he moved away or died? Have you ever tried to be that kind of person? In today’s post, I would like talk about my family motto that touches upon that point. My family motto is “Bloom wherever you are planted,” which is the statement that passed on from forefathers to my current family generation. This motto is not just words of mouth, rather it tells about a characteristic that we, as an extended family, try to inculcate in our offspring, teaching them to be good citizens wherever they are. It is the piece of advice I used to receive whenever I asked for help or to be advised. Let me explain the original Arabic variant of this motto which is

 "كن كالغيث أينما حل نفع ولا تكن كالبركان كلما ثار فجع"

This can be translated as “Do your utmost to be like rainwater, whenever it falls, it brings about life and goodness and do not be like a volcano whenever it erupts, it causes devastation and catastrophes.” We usually suffice by mentioning the first part only. I portrayed this motto in the picture of the water cycle, when I went to the middle school and studied science. The English equivalent of this motto is “Bloom wherever you are planted.” The interrelationship between these two eloquent statements is that both call upon everyone to be beneficial everywhere they are. Whenever they are absent, they leave a gap that can hardly be filled.

     To sum up, bloom wherever you are planted is part of my family’s legacy. I think if we all were to apply this motto, we would reach our potential. We would not be selfish, caring for nothing but feathering our nests. Rather, we will give priority to the well-being of the whole society over our own individual interests. Actually, this simple motto can serve as a magic wand that can turn our world to be a better place to live in.

Shylock as depicted in the Merchant of Venice

Shylock’s role in Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice” indicates with no iota of doubt that he is the most noteworthy figure in the play. He was portrayed as a bloodthirsty bogeyman, a clownish greedy moneylender and a wicked self-centered villain. He can also be viewed as tragic figure due to what he encounters of bias, prejudice, racism and persecution. Antonio takes the pride in tarnishing the image of Shylock, considering him as an outcast and enticing others to treat him as such. Shakespeare depicts the Jews as freaks of nature, and Christians as a centrally coherent, wholesome society. Christians at the time have some sort of distaste of anyone different from them and this justifies their anti-Semitic attitude.

Although Shylock is deemed as Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, the play’s title actually refers to the good merchant of Venice, namely Antonio. This is quite tricky though. Shylock is also the play’s antagonist through several stereotypes. Additionally, he is a creation of circumstances; even in his single-minded pursuit of a pound of flesh, his frequent mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard to label him a naturally-born monster. Shakespeare often steers us against Shylock, painting him as a miserly, cruel, and prosaic figure. Let’s have a thorough look at his role in the play:

Shylock is depicted as a notorious Jewish moneylender in Venice, who has one daughter named Jessica. As the stereotype entails, he is very bitter and tightfisted with his money. Shylock does not like Antonio, a Christian merchant, because of past experiences where Antonio made fun of him publicly. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to revenge by mercilessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Shylock, having been mistreated by the Christians in Venice, particularly Antonio, was not very friendly with them and held much contempt for them. The play’s protagonist, Antonio, lends money with no interest and thus spoils Shylock’s business. That is why shylock keeps waiting anxiously for an opportunity to harm him.

When Antonio's friend, Bassanio, needs money in order to impress and thus woo his beloved Portia, a pretty wealthy heiress from Belmont, he goes to his friend Antonio, who does not have the money at the time because all of his ships are at sea. Antonio uses his good credit to get the loan for his friend from Shylock the moneylender. Shylock agrees to loan the money, three thousand ducats, with no interest as long as Antonio will sign the contract, promising a pound of his flesh as collateral. If he fails to pay back on time, Shylock is entitled to cut the pound of flesh from his body. Antonio accepts the condition of the bond and signs it, thinking of the bargain as a mere joke.

Shylock intuition, that Antonio’s ships may wreck, doesn’t fail him.  Antonio’s ships are reported to have wrecked at sea. The deadline already passes, Antonio does not pay back the debt, and shylock wants to exact the pound of flesh as per the contract. So he gets Antonio arrested and put him into trial.

Word comes to Bassanio about Antonio’s predicament. Portia now is married to Bassanio and wants to help in anyway. She seeks the advice of a relative lawyer of hers, borrows his work attire, goes to the court disguised as a lawyer and exquisitely defeats shylock’s right of the pound of flesh. Shylock asks to be paid thrice the money lent instead, but Portia turns him down again.

Given the authority of judgment by the Duke, Portia decides that Shylock can have the pound of flesh as long as he doesn’t draw blood. Since it is obvious that to draw a pound of flesh would kill Antonio, Shylock is denied his suit. Even worse, for conspiring to murder a Venetian citizen, Portia orders that he should forfeit all his wealth. Shylock has to give up half of his property to Antonio and the other half to Venice as per the law. Antonio waives his half on condition that Shylock converts to Christianity and bequeaths his wealth to his disinherited daughter, Jessica, and her Christian husband, Lorenzo. The Jew has no choice but to accept, and the trail ends.

On the whole, the play is nothing but a misrepresentation of Shylock. The trend at the time has been defaming the reputation of Jews. Marlowe and Shakespeare prove this true in their plays. For instance, Barabas, in Marlowe’s the Jew of Malta, and Shylock have many things in common. Both are Jewish notorious wealthy men. Greed, materialism, selfishness and economic conservatism are some features that Barabas and Shylock equally share. Jews are a minority in a hostile society. This shows the  society at that time as an outfit that does not fit foreigners. 

Barabas as depicted in Marlowe's the Jew of Malta

Barabas is the protagonist of Christopher Marlowe’s “The Jew of Malta” which is a tragedy and revenge play that satirizes the willingness of people to put aside moral and ethical principles to achieve their goals by whatever means possible. He is a wealthy Jewish merchant who is unrelenting in his efforts to gain revenge against his foes and retrieve his confiscated wealth. 

However, Barabas is never a tragic hero. His heinous conspiracies and plots greatly outweigh the gravity of confiscating his wealth. These injustices cannot justify in any way his obsession with vengeance and cruelty. He is a scheming manipulator who feels no pity for his hapless victims and a greedy old man who guards his wealth with all his might and main.

Barabas's only motivation is gain back his riches by any means. Gradually, he grows to loathe his Christian enemies and notions of vengeance begin to consume him. Being vengeance-obsessed, he mercilessly poisons an entire convent of nuns, along with his daughter, not to mention his other wicked schemes.

Now let’s have a look at his role and delve deep into the realm of his horrific plots:

When the Turkish sultan’s son Selim Calymath arrives to the island of Malta o levy the tribute for the elapsed ten years, the Maltese governor Freneze cannot produce it immediately but he promise to pay within a month. The tribute has accumulated to a considerable sum over the last ten years. After the Turks leaves, Frenze decide to collect it the Jews of Malta; each Jew must give up half of his property.

When Barabas objects, his entire estate is confiscated. Consequently, he plots to retrieve part of his wealth with the help of his only daughter Abigall. She manages to enter the nunnery, formerly babarabs mansion, and retrieves her father’s hidden fortune. Mathias and Lodowick have fallen in love with Abigall, and Barabas promise his favors to each. He contrives a plot to have Mathias and Lodowick kill each other, and they foolishly do.

On knowing of her father’s scheming and the death of her lovers, Abigall enters the nunnery once again. So Barabas poisons an entire convent of nuns, along with his daughter for fear of her betrayal. He sends Ithamore, his Turkish salve, to the nunnery with a pot of rice laced with a deadly powder. Two friars know, via Abigall, of her father’s plots. When they confront his with his crimes, he cunningly tells them that he would like to repent and convert to Christianity. Naturally, he will contribute the entirety of his fortune to whichever monastery he enters. Being from two different monasteries, each tries to win Barabas allegiance, and end up killing each other.

Freneze refuses to pay the tribute to the Turks and thus rebels against them at the advice of the Spanish. The Turks wage a war on Malta.

 As Barabas accomplice, Ithamore knows a great deal about his plots and begins to blackmail him. So he poisons him as well. Barabas meanwhile has been captured but he feigns death and leads the Turks into the city. The Turks offers him to be Malta’s governor but he declines it. Then he decides to return Malta to Frenze and contrive to massacre the Turkish forces who fall in the trap as well. However, his plot fails miserably. He finally tastes his own poison of hatching conspiracies and then dies. He falls through the trap door and into cauldron which is the climax of his villainous acts.

          All things considered, Marlowe depicts Barabas as the cruelest and wickedest man under the sun. Shakespeare does the same in his depiction of Jews in his plays. The merchant of Venice is just a case in point. Like Barabas, Shylock was a notorious moneylender who conspires to kill a Venetian Christian, Antonio. Each of Barabas and Shylock has a single daughter.  Apparently, the two plays lend themselves to each other in many ways.

Egypt vs. the USA