Volpone by Ben Jonson
"Volpone," a comedy by Ben Jonson, explores themes of greed, deception, and the consequences of avarice in Venetian society. The plot centers around Volpone, a wealthy con man, and his servant, Mosca, who orchestrate an elaborate scheme to feign Volpone's illness in order to extract gifts and favors from those who hope to inherit his fortune. Various characters, including the greedy Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino, all vie for Volpone's attention, believing they can secure their own wealth through his impending death.
As the story unfolds, Volpone's manipulations lead to a series of comical yet dark encounters, including a failed attempt to seduce Corvino's wife, Celia. The narrative culminates in a courtroom scene where the truth of Volpone's deception is revealed, exposing the foolishness of those who sought to profit from his fake demise. Ultimately, "Volpone" serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of greed, illustrating how those consumed by their desires often fall victim to their own schemes. The play's rich characterizations and intricate plot demonstrate Jonson's keen commentary on human nature and societal flaws.
Volpone by Ben Jonson
First produced: 1606; first published, 1607
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Social satire
Time of plot:Seventeenth century
Locale: Venice
Principal Characters
Volpone , a knaveMosca , his servantCorbaccio , an old gentlemanCorvino , a merchantVoltore , an advocateLord Politic Would-Be , a knightLady Politic Would-Be , his wifeBonario , Corbaccio’s sonCelia , Corvino’s wifePeregrine , a gentleman traveler
The Story
Volpone and his servant, Mosca, are playing a cunning game with all who profess to be Volpone’s friends, and the two conspirators boast to themselves that Volpone acquired his riches not by the common means of trade but by a method that cheated no one in a commercial sense. Volpone has no heirs. Since it is believed he possesses a large fortune, many people are courting his favor in the hope of rich rewards after his death.
For three years, while Volpone feigns gout, catarrh, palsy, and consumption, valuable gifts are given to him. Volpone is in truth quite healthy and able to enjoy various vices. Mosca’s role in the grand deception is to assure each hopeful, would-be friend that he is the one whom Volpone honors in an alleged will.
To Voltore, one of the dupes, Mosca (which means “fly”) boasts that particular attention is being paid to Voltore’s interests. When Voltore (“vulture”) leaves, Corbaccio (“crow”) follows. He brings a potion to help Volpone (“fox”), or so he claims. Mosca knows better than to give his master medicine from those who are awaiting the fox’s death. Mosca suggests that to influence Volpone, Corbaccio should go home, disinherit his own son, and leave his fortune to Volpone. In return for this generous deed, Volpone, soon to die, will leave his fortune to Corbaccio, whose son will benefit eventually.
Next comes Corvino, who is assured by Mosca that Volpone, now near death, names him in a will. After the merchant leaves, Mosca tells Volpone that Corvino has a beautiful wife whom he guards at all times. Volpone resolves to go in disguise to see this woman.
Sir Politic Would-Be and his wife are traveling in Venice. Another English visitor, Peregrine, meets Sir Politic on the street and gives him news from home. While the two Englishmen are trying to impress each other, Mosca and a servant come to the street and erect a stage for a medicine vendor to display his wares. Volpone, disguised as a mountebank, mounts the platform. While he haggles with Sir Politic and Peregrine over the price of his medicine, Celia appears at her window and tosses down her handkerchief. Struck by Celia’s beauty, Volpone resolves to possess her. Meanwhile Corvino brutally scolds Celia and tells her that henceforth he will confine her to her room.
Mosca goes to Corvino with news that physicians recommend that a healthy young girl sleep by Volpone’s side and that other men are striving to be the first to win Volpone’s gratitude in this manner. Not to be outdone, Corvino promises that Celia will be sent to Volpone.
Mosca also tells Bonario, Corbaccio’s son, that his father is about to disinherit him. He promises to lead Bonario to a place where he can witness his father’s betrayal.
When Lady Politic Would-Be comes to visit Volpone, she is so talkative that Volpone fears she will make him sick in truth. To relieve Volpone’s distress, the servant tells the lady that Sir Politic is in a gondola with a young girl. Lady Would-Be hurries off in pursuit of her husband. Volpone retires to a private closet while Mosca leads Bonario behind a curtain so that the young man can spy on Corbaccio. At that moment, eager to win favor with Volpone, Corvino arrives with Celia, and Mosca sends Bonario off to another room so he will not know of her presence. Meanwhile Corvino, who intends to deceive Celia about what he thinks is the true purpose of her lying with Volpone, tells Celia what she has to do to prove her chastity. To quiet her fears, and to guarantee the inheritance from Volpone, Corvino assures his distressed wife that Volpone is so decrepit he cannot harm her.
When they are alone, Volpone leaps from his couch and displays himself as an ardent lover. As he is about to rape Celia, Bonario appears from his hiding place and saves her. While Mosca and Volpone, in terror of exposure, bewail their ruined plot, Corbaccio knocks. Volpone dashes back to his couch to assume his role of an invalid. As Mosca assures Corbaccio of Volpone’s forthcoming death, Voltore enters the room and overhears the discussion. Mosca draws Voltore aside and assures the lawyer that he is attempting to get possession of Corbaccio’s money so that Voltore will inherit more from Volpone. Mosca further explains that Bonario mistook Celia’s visit and burst upon Volpone and threatened to kill him. Taken in by Mosca’s lies, Voltore promises to keep Bonario from accusing Volpone of attempted rape and Corvino of villainy; he orders Bonario (who, unlike Volpone, Mosca, Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore, is innocent) arrested.
Mosca proceeds with his case against Celia and Bonario. He assures Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore, independently, that each will be the sole heir of Volpone. He adds Lady Would-Be as a witness against Celia. In court Voltore presents Celia and Bonario as schemers against Corvino, and he further shows that Bonario’s father disinherited his son and that Bonario dragged Volpone out of bed and attacked him. Corvino and Corbaccio testify against Celia and Bonario, while Mosca whispers to the avaricious old gentlemen that they are helping justice. To add to the testimony, Mosca presents Lady Would-Be, who tells the court she saw Celia beguiling Sir Politic in a gondola. Mosca promises Lady Would-Be that as a reward for her testimony her name will stand first on Volpone’s list of heirs.
When the trial is over, Volpone sends his servants to announce that he is dead and that Mosca is his heir. While Volpone hides behind a curtain, Mosca sits at a desk taking an inventory of the inheritance as the hopefuls arrive. The next step in Volpone’s plan is to escape from Venice with his loot. Mosca helps him disguise himself as a commodore. Mosca also puts on a disguise.
Having lost his hopes for the inheritance, Voltore withdraws his false testimony at the trial, and Corbaccio and Corvino tremble lest their own cowardly acts be revealed. The court orders Mosca to appear. Suspecting that Mosca plans to keep the fortune for himself, the disguised Volpone goes to the court. When the dupes, learning that Volpone is still alive, begin to bargain for the wealth Mosca holds, Volpone throws off his disguise and exposes to the court the foolish behavior of Corbaccio, Corvino, and Voltore, and the innocence of Celia and Bonario. The court then sentences each conspirator according to the severity of his crime. Bonario is restored to his father’s inheritance, and Celia is allowed to return to her father because Corvino attempted to barter her honor for wealth. The court announces that evil can go only so far before it kills itself.
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