Volpone Play Analysis

Volpone is an English comedy written by Ben Johnson in the early seventeenth century. The story takes place in Venice, Italy and revolves around the farcical story of con artists Volpone and his assistant, Mosca. Volpone is a piece with neoclassical elements structured in five acts and takes place all in one day. In 1606, it was performed by the King’s Men in Roman comic form with English stock characters. Volpone would have been performed on a public playhouse with simple staging. The play begins in Volpone’s house with Volpone and Mosca admiring the treasure they earned through a series of cons and tricks. Both men begin to discuss who will inherit Volpone’s wealth when he dies because he does not have any children or heirs. Suddenly, …show more content…
Everyone is sent to court and Mosca plots that Lady Politic enters the court claiming that Celia was the seducer of Sir Politic. Celia and Bonario are arrested, and Volpone continues to fake his illness. In the final act, Volpone returns home actually feeling sick. He asks Mosca to spread a rumor that he died, meaning that Mosca legally inherited the heir since it is written in Volpone’s will. Mosca betrays Volpone and refuses to return the wealth, so Volpone turns himself and Mosca in for the tricks they have …show more content…
While Volpone is a comedy, Ben Johnson’s themes have more of a serious approach. Volpone can be compared to a sly, greedy fox because of the tricks he plays to earn his wealth. He hides in his home just as a fox would in a cave and lures people inside so he can steal their money. Power and moral value come into play when Volpone threatens to rape Celia when she refuses to have sex with him. This represents that Volpone cannot be overpowered and take no as an answer. In the end, Mosca betrays Volpone when Volpone’s trick backfires and Mosca refuses to return the wealth that he now legally owns. Mosca is also known as “the parasite” meaning he lives off of others until he is strong enough to overpower