How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #4
JACOMO: Villains, I am a sacred person, touch me not.
BARABAS: The law shall touch you; but we'll lead you, we. (4.1.196-7)
Jacomo might as well be saying, "Do you even know who my father is?" (Where his father is, uh, the Church.) He's convinced that he's above the law because he's a friar, but Barabas knows better. Maybe there is justice in Malta.
Quote #5
The gold, or know, Jew, it is in my power to hang thee. (4.3.39-40)
We love blackmail. Pilia-Borza, of course, isn't going to do the hanging himself; he's counting on his ability to tattle on Barabas to the Maltese courts. So, here's the thing: sure, Barabas is guilty and should be punished. But Pilia-Borza isn't doing this out of justice; he's just using the law as a tool for his own purposes.
Quote #6
BOSCO: This sudden death of his is very strange.
FERNEZE: Wonder not at it, sir. The heavens are just.
Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of 'em. (5.1.54-6)
Bellamira, Ithamore, Pilia-Borza and Barabas have just been thrown into prison to await "justice," which is presumably an actual trial.(Although, given what we know about how Malta works, it might just be a roll of the dice.) When they all mysteriously die, Ferneze calls it "heaven's justice." Wonder what he'd say if he knew it was really Barabas's justice?