Volpone Summary

Introduction

Ben Jonson, an English writer, combined city comedy and animal tale themes in his comedy Volpone, which was originally performed in 1605 or 1606. It is considered to be one of the best comedies from the Jacobean period and is a brutal parody of greed and desire.The most frequently performed play by Ben Jonson is called Volpone, and it continues to this day to sting audiences with its brutal picture of human desire, greed, and self-interest.

The play, which is set in Venice, Italy, is both a city comedy and a kind of beast tale in which the cunning and gold-obsessed prankster Volpone, or "fox," tricks many kinds of unsuspecting citizens and tourists with the assistance of his observant servant Mosca.

About the Author

The dramatist and poet Ben Jonson was born in London on June 11, 1572. A month before his birth, his father passed away. His mother quickly got married to master bricklayer Robert Brett. The great historian William Camden was Jonson's trainer when he was a student at Westminster School started in the late 1570s. In a later essay, Jonson asserted that Camden was accountable for "all that I am in arts, all that I know."

The primary learning experience of his life?since he had been unable to attend college?was obtained during his time at Westminster, when he also developed a fondness for ancient writers like the Roman poet Horace. Following Westminster, Jonson worked as a mason for his stepfather and served in the Netherlands as a soldier. He wed Anne Lewis in 1594. The poems "On My First Daughter" and "On My First Sonne" by Ben Jonson poignantly recount the demise of their daughters Mary and Benjamin.

The primary learning experience of his life?since he had been unable to attend college?was obtained during his time at Westminster, when he also developed a fondness for ancient writers like the Roman poet Horace. Following Westminster, Jonson worked as a mason for his stepfather and served in the Netherlands as a soldier. He wed Anne Lewis in 1594. The poems "On My First Daughter" and "On My First Sonne" by Ben Jonson poignantly recount the demise of their daughters Mary and Benjamin.

Jonson began his career as an actor in the performing arts before switching to playwriting. The Case is Altered, his first existing play was staged in 1597, and Every Man in his Humour, his clever city comedy, which became his first big success, was performed in 1598. In only nine rigorous years, Jonson wrote the three comedies for which he is today best known: Volpone (1606), The Alchemist (1610), and Bartholomew Fair (1614).

The lengthy literary association between Jonson and the Stuarts began with the crowning of James I in 1603. He composed a number of attractions for the royal family over the course of the next four decades, sometimes in association with the theatrical designer Inigo Jones.

Despite having many lasting connections, Jonson appears to have been an argumentative individual, someone who was not very forgiving of others' misdeeds, and someone who was, in the words of his close friend William Drummond, "a great lover and praiser of himself."

He lost a duel in 1598 and murdered his opponent, barely escaping death for manslaughter. In his brutally satirical play Poetaster (about 1601), Jonson takes aim at a group of players who made fun of his building background and attitude of superiority. At the Stuart court, competition ultimately caused the end of his friendship with Inigo Jones.

Jonson oversaw the 1616 publishing of his Works, which included a compilation of his plays, portions of his prose, and amusements. This ground-breaking book served as an introduction to William Shakespeare's posthumous First Folio in 1623. Once Shakespeare passed away, Jonson was universally recognized as England's greatest living author and received a royal stipend.

He was chosen as City Chronologer of the City of London in 1628 (with the mandate "to gather and write down all remarkable acts related to this City and events thereof") following his foot travel to Scotland in 1618. He perhaps had a paralytic stroke in the same year. He passed away on August 6, 1637, and was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey.

Summary

Volpone unfolds in the duration of one day in Venice in the 17th century. At the home of Venetian nobleman Volpone, the story begins. He reaches the place of worship where Volpone holds his wealth along with his "parasite" Mosca, who is a mix of a slave, lackey, and servant. According to what we understand about Volpone, he conned people out of their money to accumulate his riches. We also discover that he enjoys spending his money extravagantly.

The newest fraud by Volpone will soon be exposed. Three legacy hunters?a lawyer named Voltore, an elderly gentleman named Corbaccio, and a businessman named Corvino?have been interested in him for the past three years. They are all hoping to receive their share of his estate when he passes away. Volpone is also noted for being infertile with no biological heirs and a track record of wealth.

He also appears to be extremely sick, so each of the legacy seekers showers him with presents in the hopes that Volpone would name him as his successor in return for their generosity. The legacy hunters are unaware that Volpone is in fantastic health and is just pretending to be sick to amass all those stunning "get-well" presents.

Apart from Corbaccio, who solely delivers Volpone a useless (and presumably poisonous) bottle of medication, all of the legacy hunters come in the first act with gifts to give him. To ensure that Volpone would repay the favour, Corbaccio, however, consents to come back later in the day and declare Volpone, his successor. Due to the possibility that Corbaccio will pass away before Volpone, this action benefits Volpone. Volpone and Mosca giggle at the blind faith of the hunters as they depart.

After Corvino leaves, the wife of an English knight remaining in Venice, Lady Politic Would-be, arrives at the residence but is instructed to return in three hours. And Volpone makes the decision to make an effort to get a good look at Celia, Corvino's wife, whom Mosca deems to be among the most beautiful ladies in all of Italy. Her spouse keeps her under constant protection by stationing ten guards around the clock, but Volpone promises to employ disguise to get past these obstacles.

Later the same day, Sir Politic Would-be, Lady Politic's husband, is talking with Peregrine, a young English traveller who has just arrived in Venice, in the second act, which takes place at that time. Sir Politic warms the little lad and promises that he'll teach him something or other regarding Venice and Venetians; Peregrine also likes Sir Politic's company, but only because he is hysterically egotistical and na�ve. The entrance of "Scoto Mantua," who is really Volpone disguised as an Italian mountebank or medicine-show man, interrupts the two while they are strolling in the public plaza in front of Corvino's home.

While promoting his new "oil," which is advertised as a panacea for illness and misery, Scoto delivers a protracted and colorful speech. Celia agrees as the speaker bids the birds throw him their handkerchiefs at the conclusion of his speech. When Corvino comes there, the crows in the plaza are dispersed in a furious fury as she finishes. Mosca promises to give Celia to Volpone after hearing Volpone's complaint that he is ill with passion for her when he returns home.

While this is going on, Corvino chastises his wife for throwing away her handkerchief, which he perceives as proof of her infidelity, and he threatens to kill her & her loved ones as a punishment. As a form of punishment, he orders that she is no more allowed to visit the church, isn't allowed to stay near windows (as she did while watching Volpone), and, most oddly, is required to do everything from this point forwards?she must even walk and talk backward.

When Mosca shows in, he tells Corvino that Volpone would pick him as his successor if he allows Celia to have sex with him (as a "restorative" for Volpone's deteriorating health). Jealousy vanishes abruptly from Corvino's mind, and he accepts the proposal.

The third section opens with a dialogue by Mosca, demonstrating that he is becoming more aware of his authority and his separation from Volpone. Then, when Mosca runs across Bonario, Corbaccio's son, he warns him of his father's intentions to disinherit him. In the hopes that Bonario could assassinate Corbaccio there and then, in a fit of wrath, he invites Bonario to return to Volpone's home with him to see Corbaccio sign the papers, enabling Volpone to get the inheritance early. It is already mid-morning and getting close to noon when Lady Politic once again shows up at Volpone's home.

This time, Volpone invites her in, but he quickly regrets it because of his irritation with her chattiness. Mosca saves Volpone by informing the Lady that Sir Politic was seen travelling in a gondola with a courtesan (a wealthy prostitute). In preparation for Corbaccio's arrival, Mosca covers up Bonario in a bedroom corner as Volpone gets ready to seduce Celia. However, Celia and Corvino are the first to arrive. Celia snarls angrily at having to commit infidelity, and Corvino instructs her to be quiet and focus on her work. Volpone pleasantly surprised Celia by getting out of bed while the two of them were alone.

Instead of the elderly, weak guy Celia had anticipated, she is approached by a lothario who makes overtures to her during an impassioned speech. Volpone gets closer to Celia, who rejects him since she is a good Christian, and he then threatens to rape her. But Bonario saves Celia since he has been watching the action from his hiding location the whole time. On his way out, Bonario strikes Mosca. Finally, both Corbaccio and Voltore show up there, but it's too late. Mosca sets up a plan to rescue Volpone from this situation with Voltore's help.

Peregrine and Sir Politic continue their conversation a little period later, in the early hours of the day. Sir Politic offers the young traveler some pointers on navigating life in Venice and details a number of money-making activities he is considering. Their conversation is shortly cut short by Lady Politic, who is certain that Peregrine is the prostitute Mosca informed her about?though admittedly in disguise.

The prostitute he was referring to is now in front of the Senate, which is Celia, says Mosca as he enters and corrects Lady Politic. Lady Politic accepts his account and bids Peregrine farewell before teasingly suggesting a second meeting. She has angered Peregrine, who promises to get vengeance on Sir Politic. The plot shifts to the Venetian Senate building known as the Scrutineo, where Celia and Bonario have told the magistrates of Venice about Volpone's trickery, Volpone's intention to rape Celia, Corbaccio's choice to deny his son the inheritance, and Corvino's intention to prostitute his wife.

However, with the guidance of their attorney Voltore, the defendants present a strong case for themselves. Voltore presents Corvino as an innocent man who was betrayed by his wife, Bonario and Celia as lovers, and Corbaccio as a devastated father who was on the verge of being murdered by his terrible son. When Lady Politic enters the room and accuses Celia of seducing her husband, Sir Politic, the judge is convinced (thanks to Mosca's expert setup). They become even more impressed when Volpone approaches the courtroom and acts strangely once again. The justices demand that Bonario and Celia be detained separately.

In the last act, Volpone, who has been feigning illness the whole time, arrives home exhausted and concerned that he is genuinely becoming sick. He makes the decision to play one more practical joke on the legacy hunters in order to allay his worries. He makes it seem as if he has passed away before telling Mosca to act as though he is now his master's successor. The three legacy hunters have been duped thanks to the flawless execution of the strategy.

In order to brag about each heritage hunter's humiliation without being seen, Volpone then poses as a Venetian soldier. However, Mosca reminds the audience that Volpone has been declared deceased in the eyes of the community and that he would not be permitted "to go back to the realm of the living" until Volpone settles the debt by handing Mosca a portion of his fortune.

In the meanwhile, Peregrine is pretending to be himself and pulling a joke on Sir Politic. Peregrine appears as a trader to the knight and tells Politic that news has spread about his intention to surrender Venice to the Turks. The Politic, who had made a lighthearted reference to the concept, is afraid. Politic flees when three businessmen who are working with Peregrine knock on the door by climbing inside a tortoise-shell wine case.

Upon the merchants' entrance, Peregrine alerts them to the fact that he is inspecting a priceless tortoise. The traders decide to mount the tortoise and order it to go down the floor by crawling. Before flipping it over to show Sir Politic, they shout their praises for the leg garters and exquisite hand gloves. When Sir Politic protests regarding how much he coincides with his spouse's wish to leave Venice and return to England, Peregrine and the merchants depart, chuckling at their humorous joke.

In the meanwhile, Volpone shouts amid each legacy seeker, mocking them for having lost Volpone's descent to a parasite like Mosca, and he successfully escapes identification. Nevertheless, his strategy is unsuccessful. After being teased by Volpone to the point of distraction, Voltore chooses to withdraw his evidence in the presence of the Senate, incriminating not only himself but Mosca more significantly as a criminal.

As a result of Mosca inheriting Volpone's fortune, according to Corvino, who also blames him for having been an unhappy loser, the Senators are tremendously shocked to learn of Volpone's death. Volpone almost undoes his error by informing Voltore that "Volpone" is still alive in the heat of the Senate hearings. Mosca acts as being confused and tells the Senate that he has no idea where he is or how he got there and asserts that he must have been under the influence of a demon while speaking to them only moments before. He also tells the Senators, in violation of Corvino, that Volpone is still alive. When Mosca arrives, everything appears to be going well for Volpone, but instead of validating Voltore's assertion that Volpone is alive and well, Mosca refutes it.

Mosca does, after all, possess a will that Volpone signed and in which he named him as his successor. Now that Volpone is assumed to be dead, Mosca is the rightful owner of Volpone's possessions, and he informs Volpone that he will not return them if Volpone confesses the truth. Volpone has come to terms with his betrayal and resolves to turn them both up rather than allow Mosca to inherit his money. When Volpone removes his mask, he finally speaks the truth about what transpired the previous day.

Ultimately, Mosca gets assigned to a slave dungeon while Volpone gets sent to jail. Corvino suffers from humiliation by being compelled to wear a pair of donkey's ears and row through the Venice canals while Voltore is forbidden from practicing law. Corbaccio also loses his property, which is transferred to his son Bonario. At the conclusion, the author addresses the audience in a brief remark and requests that they applaud if they appreciate the performance.

The Theme Of The Play

1.Greed

Volpone's humor is focused on the concept of "avarice," which may be seen as a kind of greed that encompasses all material desires as well as monetary gain.In his own words, Volpone sums up the major argument of the play: "What is an uncommon punishment / Is selfishness to itself." The punishment?and the play's core irony?is that although greed motivates the pursuit of wealth, influence, and respect, it ultimately renders everyone in the play worse off financially and spiritually and makes them all seem dumb and deserving of scorn.

When Celia wonders, "Whither [where] is sorrow fled human breasts?" in Chapter III.vii, she is expressing a similar thought. And by the judge at the conclusion of the play in his request that the audience "pick up" through the play the events that occur to people who give in to greed, highlighting that the play's perspective on greed is a didactic one, meant to educate the audience what greed's genuine repercussions are. Volpone, who first serves as the lesson's instrument by tricking the Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore into giving up their possessions in exchange for an inheritance of his own, also becomes the lesson's subject after giving in to his endless need for physical pleasure.

2.The Influence of Stagecraft

The play presents a conflict between the theatrical techniques and the expression of moral truth, which is never fully resolved.In other words, there is a dispute over the play itself?which Jonson intends to have moral value for those who see it?and what happens in the play, where the staging techniques used to create the play are an indicator of fraud, disorientation, and moral degeneration.

In other words, Volpone doesn't just tell lies or mislead people; he puts on a whole show to cover up his tricks. He creates a character (the ill Volpone) using costumes, make-up, and props, and he simulates an eye infection using a special eye lotion.In the end, it is shown that this was only another delusion. He also seems to share the dramatist Jonson's objective to expose moral stupidity.

3.Parasitism

In the words of Mosca (III.i), "Everyone's a parasite," and during the duration of the play, he is shown to be correct in the sense that everyone seeks to survive off of the money or way of life of others, without putting in any "honest toil" of their own. Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore are all attempting to inherit money from a deceased man, and Volpone has made a sizable fortune by pulling con games like the one he is now engaged in. According to this interpretation,parasitism is a type of superiority rather than a sign of indolence or need. The parasite survives on the intelligence of others and feeds on their kindness and credulity.

List of Volpone Characters

• Volpone

The play's title character is "a Magnifico," or a nobleman from Venice. Volpone is a scam man who poses as unwell to draw in legacy seekers. He is the epitome of avarice and is totally fixated on gold. It verges on sexual promiscuity how much he enjoys seeing other people's avarice and flattery. By the play's conclusion, it is abundantly evident that Volpone was not the mastermind behind his own plan and was rather gullible to Mosca's scheming.

• Mosca

"His Parasite," or Volpone's employee. Mosca is annoying, submissive, and cunning. Despite having a lesser birth rank than Volpone, Mosca is the true mastermind behind the con. Although Mosca is the one who pits the heritage seekers against one another, Volpone is the star. Like Volpone, Mosca has an unquenchable need for money. More than his master, however, Mosca is driven only by strategy and shows no remorse for his trickery or sleight of hand.

• Voltore

"An Advocate," or attorney. Voltore stands out among the heritage hunters because of his line of work. Because Volpone respects lawyers, Mosca informs Voltore that he will be the heir. Mosca marks him out for punishment in addition to his outstanding effort in Volpone's defense. Because of his intelligence, Voltore exudes a sense of superiority but also has a sense of regret. Voltore's confession is eventually responsible for Volpone and Mosca's demise.

• Corbaccio

"An old Gentleman." Corbaccio is a miserly old man. He has poor hearing, eyesight, and stride, yet he still intends to outlive Volpone. Although Corbaccio's betrayal is carried out with the purpose of increasing his son's riches, only avarice could have motivated him to seek out Volpone's inheritance in the first place. One of the play's most heinous acts is the false accusation Corbaccio leveled against his son.

• Corvino

A Merchant. In addition to being greedy, Corvino is erratic and short-tempered. It's awful how he treats his wife. He personifies sensual longing. Corvino is the most trusting of the legacy hunters since he is the most susceptible to his passions. His deception is thus at its worst.

• Avocatori

The "four Magistrates," or magistrates from the Scrutineo. The Avocatori are surprisingly trusting agents of law and order. They change sides in the legal dispute based not on verifiable facts but rather on their perceptions of the accused and the prosecution. What's worse is that, like the other characters in the play, the Avocatori are equally naive and arrogant. The Avocatori are solely interested in marrying their daughters off to Mosca, even when lives are on the line.

• Notario

"The Register," or a Scrutineo officer. The Notario performs duties similar to those of a bailiff in a contemporary court of law. In general, he does tasks for the Avocatori and calls evidence, swears themselves in, and so forth.

• Nano

"A Dwarf." one of Volpone's three entertainment-only slaves. They mostly use slapstick humor in their performances as a critique of Elizabethan theatre. Additionally, they perform tasks for Volpone, such as disseminating rumors that he has passed away.

• Sir Politic Would-be

"A Knight." Sir Politic is an English traveler who takes great satisfaction in knowing how to conduct oneself in a gentlemanly manner. He is an arrogant know-it-all who really knows very little. He places a lot of stock in his reputation and often opposes Volpone. But Sir Politic's quick-money ideas are not exploitative like Volpone's.

• Peregrine

"A Gentleman-traveller." Peregrine, an English tourist like Sir Politic, helps tie the plot to Jonson's nation of origin. Along with symbolizing the Knowledge component of the Wisdom/Ignorance theme, Peregrine also personifies the idea of vengeance.

• Bonario

"A young gentleman, the son of Corbaccio." Bonario is honorable, upstanding, and regrettably credulous. He is one of the play's most upright characters due to his honesty and willingness to do what is right. However, he may be taken advantage of since he places too much faith in other people and is so deeply committed to doing good.

• Lady Would-be

"The Knight's wife." Sir Politic's chatty, conceited, and envious friend is Lady Would-be. Even though she is self-sufficient, Lady Would-be resents Sir Politic's independence and becomes irrationally enraged when Mosca informs her that Sir Politic is seeing someone else. Mosca informs us that Lady Would-be offered him her body in exchange for the chance to succeed Volpone, so we know that her greed surpasses that of Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore.

• Celia

"The wife of the Merchant." In spite of her sadomasochistic desire, Celia and Bonario stand for justice in the face of injustice. It's debatable whether Celia is innocent, but at least she isn't corrupted by greed like almost all the other characters in the play.

• Mercator

There are "three Merchants." Peregrine has the Mercator as his helper in his practical prank on Sir Politic. They pose as government officials from the Republic of Venice who have come to detain Sir Politic.