Justify Volpone as a Beast Fable

Answer

Justify “Volpone” as a beast fable.

Or, Find out the animal imagery in the play “Volpone.”

Or, Write about the significance of the names of the characters in “Volpone”.

Ben Jonson’s (1572-1637) “Volpone,” first produced in 1605–1606, is among the finest Jacobean era comedies. The play is a beast fable where human characteristics are depicted through animal symbolism. Jonson focuses on the animal-like characteristics of his characters to satire greed and lust, making the play a successful beast fable.

Beast Fable: Beast fables are stories that feature animals in fantastical roles. These stories often have a moral lesson to share, a lesson for the audience.

“Volpone” is a different beast fable since its characters are humans, not animals. The play is rich in animal imagery, particularly through the names of its characters. For instance, Volpone means sly fox. The name suggests the character’s personality: greedy and cunning.

Volpone: Volpone means “sly fox” in Italian. The fox is known for its cunning and trickery. In the play, Volpone is a greedy old man who schemes to deceive people. He worships gold as a saint.

Good morning to the day; and next, my gold:

Open the shrine, that I may see my Saint.

He is rich but wants more money. Volpone pretends to be sick on his deathbed. So, when the legacy hunters come to impress Volpone with valuable gifts, expecting to be his heir, he loots them. Volpone’s parasite servant Mosca even convinces Corbaccio to disinherit his son, Bonario, and give his property to Volpone. Volpone is also a lustful man. He manipulates Corvino to sleep with his beautiful wife, Celia. His cleverness and deceit define his character.

Mosca: Mosca means “fly” in Italian. A fly is often seen as a parasite, living off others. Mosca, Volpone’s servant, embodies this role. Mosca helps Volpone in his scheme. In the end, the parasite Mosca tries to deceive his own master. He schemes to take over Volpone’s large fortune.

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

In this line, Mosca decides to use his manipulative skills. He is ready to take what he believes he deserves from his “master.”

Voltore: Voltore means “vulture” in Italian. Vultures are scavengers, feeding on the dead and dying. Voltore, a lawyer, represents this scavenging nature. He preys on Volpone’s imminent death to gain his fortune. Voltore brings an antique, precious plate for Volpone to impress him so that he can be his heir.

Corbaccio: Corbaccio means “raven” in Italian. Ravens are often associated with greed and death. His greed drives him to disinherit his own son. He is convinced to give his property to Volpone to impress him.

Corvino: Corvino means “crow” in Italian. Crows are also known for their greed and cunning. Corvino is a merchant willing to sacrifice his wife’s honor for the chance to inherit Volpone’s riches.

Moral: Morality is the predominant purpose of beast fables. The moral of the play lies in the trial. All the evildoers who are like beasts are punished. Volpone’s property is given to the hospital and he is kept in prison until he becomes sick. Mosca is beaten by a whip and then sent as a galley slave. Corbaccio is sent to a monastery where he would learn how to die well and his son Bonario inherits his property. Voltore is suspended from his profession and banished from Venice. Corvino must pay three times more money to Celia which he had taken as dowry.

At the beginning of the play, Volpone mocks the legacy-hunters because of their greed:

What a rare punishment is avarice to itself.

In the end, all the greedy get their punishment. It teaches the audience the moral lesson: grasp all, lose all.

To wrap up, Ben Jonson uses these names to create a satirical commentary on human nature. He uses animal characteristics to expose the vices of greed, hypocrisy, and corruption in society. The characters’ struggle for wealth and power is much like animals in a beast fable.