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 th-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 s 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