rrect wrongs by making people laugh.
“Volpone” (1606) is a powerful satire. It uses humour, irony, and clever tricks to attack greed, foolishness, and corruption in society. Ben Jonson (1572-1637) uses different characters and events to criticize society's bad habits. Here, I will discuss how “Volpone” satirizes the contemporary English society.
Greed for Money: The biggest problem shown in the play is greed. Almost every character wants more money. They are always ready to do anything to get more money. Volpone pretends that he is very sick and about to die. This is just a part of his scam to loot the legacy-hunters: Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino. These greedy people bring expensive gifts for Volpone to impress him, to be his heir after his death. Moreover, Corbaccio disinherits his own son to get Volpone’s favor, and Corvino sends his wife to Volpone’s bed. Here, Jonson is showing that in his society, people care more about money than love, honesty, or family. Ironically, Volpone himself mocks the greed of others:
“What a rare punishment is avarice to itself!”
Corrupt Lawyers and Courts: Voltore is a lawyer, but he does not care about justice. Volpone tries to rape Celia. But Voltore lies in court against innocent Celia to help Volpone and Mosca. He does this to get Volpone’s favour. Ben Jonson is showing that many lawyers in his time used the law to help the rich and powerful. The whole court scene in the play makes it clear that it is to fool judges when people lie with confidence. In this way, Jonson is mocking the English legal system (law system) of his time.
Foolish Flattery: Jonson also satirizes the foolish flattery of people. Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino are all examples of this. They try to impress Volpone with gold and gifts, only to be his heir after his death. They do not know that Volpone is looting them. Their foolishness makes them easy prey for Volpone and Mosca’s tricks. Mosca, Volpone’s parasite servant, is another example of flattery. He always flatters his master and helps him in his scam. Ultimately, he decides to betray Volpone and take away his wealth. He says:
“I'll bury him [Volpone], or gain by him: I am his heir.”
False Appearances and Lies: In “Volpone,” people pretend to be something they are not. Volpone acts like he is dying. Mosca acts like a loyal servant, but he is actually very cunning. Sir Politic Would-Be acts like a wise man, but he is full of silly ideas. Lady Politic Would-Be tries to act fashionable, but she is loud and foolish. With these characters and events, Jonson is mocking people in his contemporary society who wear false masks. They pretend to be rich, honest, or smart, but they are full of lies and foolishness inside.
Women’s Position in Society: In this play, Jonson mocks how men treated women in the early 17th-century English society. Celia is a pure woman, but her husband (Corvino) sends her to Volpone’s bed. Corvino sells his wife to get Volpone’s wealth. This shows that women were treated as property. On another occasion, Volpone comments on Lady Politic Would-Be’s annoying nature. He says,
“Highest female grace is silence.”
Here, Jonson is mocking the English society that expects women to be obedient.
In conclusion, “Volpone” is more than a funny play. It is a powerful satire of the English society in the 1600s. Jonson uses humor and exaggeration to show the greed, corruption, and foolishness of people. He warns the audience to live with honesty, not greed. That is what makes this play a great satire on contemporary English society.
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