Sketch the character of Mosca

Answer

Sketch the character of Mosca.

Or, Discuss Mosca as a master manipulator.

“Volpone,” is a comedy play by Ben Jonson (1572-1637), first performed in 1606. The play is a merciless satire of greed and lust.

The plot of the play centers on Volpone’s scheme to deceive people, in which his parasite servant Mosca helps him. Mosca means “fly (insect)” in Italian. Mosca is a true parasite servant. He clings to Volpone’s wealth and status. As the play progresses, the audience sees that Mosca, not Volpone, is the true mastermind of the scam. He even devises a plan to take over Volpone’s wealth.

Mosca is cunning, deceptive, and a master manipulator. He manipulates almost every major character in the play. Here we sketch the character of Mosca.

Cunning and Deceptive: Mosca is highly intelligent and skilled in manipulation. Volpone pretends to be on his deathbed after a long illness in order to dupe Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino. Mosca masterfully deceives the three legacy hunters so that they give their most precious possessions to Volpone, hoping to be the heir of Volpone’s property. Mosca takes an antique, precious plate from Voltore, a bag of gold coins from Corbaccio, and a pearl and diamond from Corvino for his master. He promises all three that they will inherit Volpone’s property.

Opportunistic and Persuasive: Throughout the play, Mosca demonstrates an opportunistic nature. He is always looking for ways to benefit from the situations around him. After taking a bag of gold coins from Corbaccio, Mosca further manipulates him. He persuades Corbaccio to disinherit his own son and give his property to Volpone. He also informs Volpone about Corvino’s beautiful wife Celia. Mosca’s description about Celia is as follows,

O, sir, the wonder,

The blazing star of Italy!… a soft lip,

Would tempt you to eternity of kissing!

Charismatic: Mosca possesses a charismatic personality. His charismatic personality allows him to easily gain the trust of others. He convinces all three legacy hunters that they will be the heir of Volpone after his death. In Act 3, Scene 1, Mosca recognizes himself as the mastermind behind Volpone’s successful scam.

I fear I shall begin to grow in love with my dear self.

Betrayal: Mosca’s ambition knows no bounds. He is willing to betray even his master, Volpone, when he sees an opportunity to rise to power and wealth. Mosca says,

I’ll bury him [Volpone], or gain by him: I am his heir.

In this line, Mosca decides to use his manipulative skills against his master. As the play unfolds, Volpone wants more fun. He declares himself dead and wills his property in Mosca’s name, to see the disappointment in the face of legacy hunters. Mosca jumps on the opportunity and banishes Volpone from his own house. It becomes clear that Mosca’s loyalty is superficial. He betrays his master for his own gain.

Comic and Tragic Elements: Mosca’s character is a blend of comic and tragic elements. His cunning and the absurdity of his schemes provide much of the play’s humor. However, his eventual downfall adds a tragic dimension.

In the play’s end, every greedy person gets punished. Mosca is beaten by the whip and then sent as a galley slave. His overreaching ambition leads to his exposure and punishment. Mosca’s ultimate downfall underscores the moral lessons of the play.

In conclusion, Mosca is a master manipulator whose ambition knows no bounds. His intricate character is central to the themes of greed, deception, and the corrupting power of ambition in “Volpone.”