Volpone Characters
V
Volpone
Protagonist
Also known as: The Fox
Greedy
Deceitful
Pleasure-seeking
Cunning
A rich old man from Venice whose name means 'The Fox.' He pretends to be gravely ill in order to trick greedy men into giving him lavish gifts. He is driven by a love of money and sensual pleasure. His elaborate schemes ultimately lead to his downfall.
M
Mosca
Antagonist
Clever
Scheming
Ambitious
Opportunistic
Volpone's parasite and chief helper who assists in orchestrating his master's tricks. He is highly intelligent and grows increasingly confident in his own abilities. His ambition leads him to seek greater power for himself, bringing him into direct conflict with Volpone.
C
Celia
Supporting
Virtuous
Religious
Loyal
Beautiful
The good and deeply religious wife of Corvino. She is renowned for her beauty and remains steadfastly loyal despite her husband's cruel mistreatment. She embodies honesty and moral integrity in contrast to the greed surrounding her.
V
Voltore
Supporting
Greedy
Deceitful
Skilled in rhetoric
Manipulative
A greedy lawyer who covets Volpone's wealth and hopes to be named his heir. He is highly skilled in the use of language and employs his legal talents to deceive and manipulate others. His avarice makes him an easy target for Volpone's schemes.
C
Corvino
Supporting
Jealous
Violent
Greedy
Cruel
The jealous and violent husband of Celia. He prioritises money over love and is willing to mistreat and demean his wife in pursuit of Volpone's fortune. His avarice strips him of any moral decency.
C
Corbaccio
Supporting
Greedy
Deluded
Selfish
Unscrupulous
An old and ailing man who nonetheless harbours strong hopes of inheriting Volpone's fortune. In his greed he goes so far as to disinherit his own son in order to curry favour with Volpone. He is easily manipulated due to his blind avarice.
B
Bonario
Supporting
Honest
Brave
Loyal
Protective
The honest son of Corbaccio who has been disinherited by his own father. He is courageous and morally upright, stepping in to protect Celia from Volpone's advances. He serves as a figure of genuine virtue amid widespread corruption.
SP
Sir Politic Would-be
Minor
Naive
Gullible
Pretentious
Foolish
An English knight residing in Venice who fancies himself worldly and sophisticated. He is in reality naive and easily deceived. He provides comic relief and satirises the figure of the self-important English traveller abroad.
LP
Lady Politic Would-be
Minor
Talkative
Vain
Greedy
Pretentious
The verbose and vain wife of Sir Politic Would-be. She attempts to ingratiate herself with Volpone much like the other greedy legacy hunters. Her excessive talking and self-importance make her a figure of satire.
P
Peregrine
Minor
Clever
Perceptive
Witty
Worldly
A young English traveller visiting Venice. Unlike Sir Politic Would-be, he is sharp-minded and not easily fooled. He serves as a foil to the gullible Sir Politic and provides a more grounded perspective on events.
N
Nano
Minor
Entertaining
Playful
Humorous
Volpone's dwarf and household fool. He entertains his master with songs and jokes. He contributes to the festive and carnivalesque atmosphere of Volpone's household.
C
Castrone
Minor
Silent
Subservient
Volpone's servant and eunuch. He has no spoken lines in the play and exists primarily as part of Volpone's unusual and grotesque household entourage.
A
Androgyno
Symbolic
Ambiguous
Grotesque
Symbolic
A hermaphrodite and professional fool living in Volpone's household. Androgyno serves a largely symbolic and theatrical function, contributing to the play's themes of deformity, excess, and the subversion of natural order.
FA
Four Avocatori, Notario, Officers, and Mercatori
Minor
Also known as: The Avocatori, Court Officers, Merchants
Institutional
Functional
Authoritative
A collective group comprising four judges, a court notary, officers of the court, and three merchants. They facilitate the legal and commercial scenes of the play. They represent the institutions of Venetian law and commerce against which the main characters' schemes are ultimately judged.