Volpone

Volpone

Ben Jonson’s Volpone is a dark comedy about greed, deception, and the foolishness of human desires

. The play is set in Venice and follows a wealthy old man, Volpone (the "Fox"), who pretends to be dying to trick greedy people into giving him expensive gifts. With the help of his clever servant Mosca (the "Fly"), they play cruel games with three foolish men—Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino—who each hope to inherit Volpone’s fortune. The play is full of sharp humor, exaggerated characters, and a harsh lesson about the dangers of greed. In the end, the liars and cheaters are punished, showing Jonson’s satirical view of human corruption. Volpone is not just funny but also a sharp criticism of selfishness and hypocrisy in society. 

1. Greed Makes People Stupid 

Every character (except Celia and Bonario) is obsessed with money. The victims (Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino) act against their own interests just to inherit Volpone’s wealth. Lesson: Greed blinds people to obvious lies. 

2. The World Is Full of Fakes 

Volpone fakes illness, Mosca fakes loyalty, and the victims fake friendship. Even the courtroom scenes show justice can be bought. Lesson: In this world, nothing is real—just performances. 

3. Power Corrupts 

Volpone enjoys controlling others more than being rich. Mosca, a poor servant, becomes just as greedy and cruel when he gets power. Lesson: Absolute power turns everyone into monsters. 

4. Animal Instincts Rule Humans 

Characters are named after animals (Fox, Fly, Vulture, Crow). They act on basic instincts—greed, deception, survival—not morals. Lesson: Civilization is just a mask for our wild nature. 

5. No Happy Endings for Anyone 

The "clever" (Volpone, Mosca) lose everything. The greedy victims get humiliated. Even the innocent (Celia, Bonario) don’t truly win. Lesson: In a corrupt world, everyone suffers. 

Volpone is a dark comedy showing how money and power turn people into fools and monsters. It’s funny but also scary—because we recognize these flaws in real life!  

1. Volpone (The Fox) 

• Nature: A wealthy con artist who fakes illness 

• Key Traits: 

• Brilliant but lazy - enjoys tricking people more than money itself 

• Theatrical - loves performing roles (dying man, mountebank) 

• Self-destructive - his love for games ruins his perfect scam 

• Irony: The master manipulator gets manipulated by Mosca 

2. Mosca (The Fly) 

• Nature: Volpone's servant and partner-in-crime 

• Key Traits: 

• More dangerous than Volpone - does all the real work 

• Social climber - uses words as weapons to rise in society 

• Ultimate betrayer - turns against everyone, including Volpone 

• Why He Matters: Shows how servants could be more cunning than masters 

3. The Victims (Vulture, Crow, Raven) 

• Voltore (Lawyer): 

• Corrupt professional who breaks laws he should protect 

• Willing to lie in court for inheritance 

• Corvino (Merchant): 

• Most shocking - offers his chaste wife to Volpone 

• Shows how greed destroys marriage 

• Corbaccio (Old Man): 

• Willing to disinherit his own son 

• Represents how age doesn't bring wisdom, just more greed 

4. Celia & Bonario (The Innocents) 

• Nature: Only good characters in the play 

• Their Role: 

• Highlight how corrupt everyone else is 

• Their suffering shows virtue isn't rewarded 

• Tools for plot rather than real characters 

Key Observations: 

1. No Heroes - Everyone is either evil or foolish 

2. Animal Nature - Characters live up to their animal names 

3. The Smartest Lose - Both Volpone and Mosca's cleverness destroys them 

4. Justice? - Punishments seem harsh, but no one deserves sympathy 

Ans-4: How Volpone Manipulates Others to Reveal His Complex and Morally Ambiguous Nature 

In Ben Jonson’s Volpone, the title character is a wealthy, cunning trickster who pretends to be dying to scam greedy people out of their money. His schemes reveal his intelligence, humor, and complete lack of morals—making him both fascinating and repulsive.  

 

1. How Does Volpone Manipulate Others? 

A. Playing the "Dying Man" 

• Volpone fakes a serious illness, making greedy characters believe they’ll inherit his fortune if they give him expensive gifts.  

• His performance is so convincing that even his servant, Mosca, helps him trick others. 

B. Targeting the Greedy 

• Voltore (the Lawyer) – Flattered with promises of inheritance if he helps Volpone in court.  

• Corbaccio (the Old Man) – Tricked into disinheriting his own son for a fake reward.  

• Corvino (the Merchant) – Even offers his own wife to Volpone, thinking it will make him richer. 

Each victim is already corrupt, so Volpone exploits their greed rather than tricking innocent people.  

C. Using Mosca as His Partner 

• Mosca is even more manipulative than Volpone, feeding lies to the victims.  

• At first, they work together, but later, Mosca betrays Volpone, showing that greed destroys even thieves. 

2. What Does This Reveal About Volpone’s Character? 

A. He’s Highly Intelligent but Wicked 

• Volpone enjoys outsmarting others—he doesn’t just want money, he wants entertainment.  

• His schemes are creative and bold, making him a fascinating villain. 

B. He’s Morally Ambiguous (Not Pure Evil) 

• Unlike typical villains, Volpone doesn’t harm the innocent—only greedy fools.  

• He’s more of a trickster than a monster, making the audience almost root for him at times. 

C. His Downfall Comes From Overconfidence 

• Volpone could have stopped early and kept his wealth, but his love of games makes him push too far.  

• When he tries to seduce Celia (Corvino’s wife), he crosses a line, leading to his downfall. 

3. The Irony: The Trickster Gets Tricked 

• In the end, Mosca betrays him, and the law punishes him.  

• Volpone loses everything because he couldn’t stop playing games—proving that greed and pride destroy even the cleverest people. 

Volpone is not just a villain—he’s a charismatic, smart, but deeply flawed character who exposes the greed of others. His manipulations make the play darkly funny, but his downfall reminds us that no one wins in a world of deceit.  

Ans-5: Jacobean Comedy Features in Volpone by Ben Jonson 

Ben Jonson’s Volpone is a dark, satirical comedy from the Jacobean era (the time of King James I, after Shakespeare). Unlike Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, Jacobean comedies were sharper, more cynical, and morally complex. Here are the key Jacobean comedy features found in Volpone:  

1. Dark Humor & Satire 

• Ridiculing Greed & Corruption: The play mocks lawyers, merchants, and nobles who are obsessed with money.  

• Cruel Jokes: Volpone’s tricks are funny but also cruel (e.g., convincing an old man to disinherit his son).  

• No Happy Ending: Unlike Shakespearean comedies (where lovers marry), Volpone ends with punishments and betrayals. 

2. Morally Ambiguous Characters 

• Volpone is a villain but also charismatic and clever—we almost like him!  

• Mosca (his servant) is even worse—he betrays everyone, including Volpone.  

• The Victims (like Corvino, Corbaccio) are greedy fools, so we don’t feel sorry for them. 

3. Exaggerated, Grotesque Characters 

• Jacobean comedies often had larger-than-life, almost cartoonish characters:  

• Volpone = A sly fox (his name means "fox" in Italian).  

• Voltore = A vulture-like lawyer.  

• Corbaccio = A deaf old man tricked into giving up his wealth. 

4. Deception & Disguises 

• Volpone fakes illness to trick people.  

• Mosca lies constantly to manipulate others.  

• Disguises & Role-Playing: Volpone even dresses as a mountebank (fake doctor) to seduce Corvino’s wife. 

5. Social Criticism 

• The play attacks corruption in law, business, and marriage:  

• Lawyers (Voltore) take bribes.  

• Husbands (Corvino) sell their wives for money.  

• The rich (Corbaccio) abandon family for wealth. 

6. Violent or Unjust Endings 

• Unlike Shakespearean comedies (where everyone forgives each other), Volpone ends with:  

• Volpone sent to prison.  

• Mosca sent to the galleys (slave ships).  

• The greedy fools (Corbaccio, Corvino, Voltore) humiliated. 

• This harsh ending was typical of Jacobean satire—showing that greed leads to ruin.