Volpone : Themes
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.
Themes
Greed: The play starts with Volpone’s love for gold. He calls gold his “saint.” Every morning, he opens his treasure box and looks at it with joy. He does not work for money. He wants gold by cheating people. He pretends to be sick and dying. This trick attracts greedy men like Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino. Voltore brings a silver plate. Corbaccio cuts his son out of his will. Corvino sends his own wife to Volpone. All of them want Volpone’s gold. But in the end, they all suffer. The play shows how greed brings pain and punishment.
Deception: Every big event in the play is based on lies. Volpone lies about being sick. This lie fools the greedy men. Mosca also lies to everyone. He tells each legacy-hunter that they are the true heir. He lies to Bonario and brings him into a trap. In court, Voltore lies and says Celia and Bonario are lovers. Corvino lies about his own wife. Lady Politick gives false support. But slowly, the lies start to fall apart. The play teaches that lies may win for a time, but they bring ruin in the end.
Justice: At first, it looks like evil will win. Volpone cheats many people. Mosca controls the court. Bonario and Celia, who are innocent, are sent to jail. But the truth comes out in the end. Volpone tries to stop Mosca. He tells the court that he was pretending. He tells how Mosca and the others lied. The court listens. It understands who is right and who is wrong. Then, justice is done. The play shows that justice may come late, but it always comes.
Beast Fable: Volpone is a beast fable. In this kind of story, people act like animals. Here, every main character has an animal name. Volpone is a fox, clever and tricky. Mosca is a fly, annoying and dependent. Corvino is a crow. Corbaccio is an old raven. Voltore is a vulture. These are all birds that eat dead things. In the play, they all wait around Volpone, thinking he will die. They act like animals who fight over a dead body. In the end, the message is clear: greed brings ruin, lies bring shame, and only truth brings peace.