Discuss the theme of avarice in the play Volpone
Volpone is a notable literary work by Ben Jonson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Volpone.
Answer
Discuss the theme of avarice in the play “Volpone.”
Or, “The world of Volpone is crudely materialistic and gold-centred.” Elaborate with illustrations from the text.
Ben Jonson’s (1572-1637) “Volpone,” first performed in 1606, is the playwright’s most performed play. The play is a famous Jacobean-era comedy, which mercilessly satires avarice and lust. Avarice, extreme greed for wealth, is central to the narrative. Avarice is central to character motivations. The play exposes how avarice leads to moral decay, deception, and ultimately, downfall.
All the major characters in the play are motivated by excessive greed, including Volpone (sly fox), Mosca (fly), and the three legacy hunters: Voltore (vulture), Corbaccio (raven), and Corvino (crow). Characters lust for what they do not have—money, sex, or power.
According to Ben Jonson, desire itself is not inherently evil. Rather, it’s avarice—excessive desire—that becomes morally corrupting. This is best seen through the character of Volpone.
Volpone’s Greed: Volpone is an old and wealthy man. However, he lusts for more money and sex. He worships gold as a saint.
Good morning to the day; and next, my gold:
Open the shrine, that I may see my Saint.
The legacy hunters- Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino are obsessed with becoming Volpone’s heir because they hope to inherit his fortune. Their greed is so strong that they have no regard for Volpone’s life. Volpone plots to deceive the legacy hunters. He pretends to be on his deathbed after a long illness. Hence, Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino, motivated by avarice, come to see him with valuable gifts. Volpone scams them with the help of his parasite servant Mosca. As the play unfolds, Volpone attempts to rape Celia. It is avarice that morally corrupts him, turning him from a sly fox to a predator.
Later in the play, Volpone is caught in a fox trap because of his excessive greed. His servant Mosca tricks him and takes all his property, who is the example of another corrupted person because of avarice.
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