CORE-II ENGLISH DRAMA # Unit II, Lesson 3: Ben Jonson - Volpone

 CORE-II ENGLISH DRAMA

# Unit II, Lesson 3: Ben Jonson - Volpone

## 2 Marks Questions and Answers (10)

1. Question: When was "Volpone" first performed?

   Answer: "Volpone" was first performed in 1605-1606.

2. Question: What is the setting of "Volpone"?

   Answer: The play is set in Venice, Italy.

3. Question: Who is the titular character Volpone?

   Answer: Volpone is a wealthy Venetian nobleman who pretends to be dying to fool legacy hunters.

4. Question: What animal is Volpone associated with?

   Answer: Volpone is associated with the fox; his name means "sly fox" in Italian.

5. Question: Who is Mosca in the play?

   Answer: Mosca is Volpone's parasitic servant and accomplice in his schemes.

6. Question: Name two of Volpone's would-be heirs.

   Answer: Voltore (the vulture), Corbaccio (the raven), and Corvino (the crow) are Volpone's would-be heirs.

7. Question: What disguise does Volpone adopt to woo Celia?

   Answer: Volpone disguises himself as Scoto of Mantua, a mountebank (traveling quack doctor).

8. Question: Who are Bonario and Celia?

   Answer: Bonario is Corbaccio's disinherited son, and Celia is Corvino's virtuous wife.

9. Question: What genre is "Volpone" typically classified as?

   Answer: "Volpone" is classified as a satirical comedy.

10. Question: How does the play end for Volpone?

    Answer: Volpone is exposed, his wealth is confiscated, and he is sentenced to imprisonment in a hospital for incurables.

## 5 Marks Questions and Answers (5)

1. Question: Analyze the character of Volpone in Ben Jonson's play.

   Answer: Volpone is a complex and multifaceted character:

   1. Cunning: He is extremely clever and manipulative, devising elaborate schemes to deceive others.

   

   2. Greed: His primary motivation is the accumulation of more wealth, despite already being rich.

   

   3. Theatricality: Volpone delights in performance and disguise, seeing his deceptions as a form of art.

   

   4. Hedonism: He pursues pleasure and self-gratification without moral constraints.

   

   5. Hubris: His overconfidence in his own cleverness ultimately leads to his downfall.

   Volpone embodies the vice of avarice while also serving as a charismatic and entertaining protagonist, challenging the audience's moral judgments.

2. Question: Discuss the role of Mosca in "Volpone".

   Answer: Mosca plays a crucial role in the play:

   1. Accomplice: He is Volpone's primary assistant in executing his schemes.

   

   2. Manipulator: Mosca manipulates the legacy hunters, often more skillfully than Volpone himself.

   

   3. Social Commentary: As a parasite, Mosca represents social mobility and the power of wit over birth.

   

   4. Foil: He serves as a foil to Volpone, often appearing more intelligent and adaptable.

   

   5. Catalyst: Mosca's actions drive much of the plot, especially in the latter part of the play when he attempts to outwit Volpone.

   Mosca's character adds depth to the play's exploration of greed, loyalty, and social hierarchy.

3. Question: Examine the theme of greed in "Volpone".

   Answer: Greed is a central theme in "Volpone":

   1. Universal Vice: The play portrays greed as a universal human flaw, affecting characters across social classes.

   

   2. Corrupting Influence: Greed is shown to corrupt moral values and human relationships.

   

   3. Social Critique: Jonson uses the theme to criticize the materialistic values of his society.

   

   4. Irony: The greedy characters' pursuit of wealth ultimately leads to their downfall and loss.

   

   5. Complexity: The play explores various forms of greed, from Volpone's desire for more wealth to the legacy hunters' avarice.

   Through this theme, Jonson offers a scathing satire of human nature and societal values.

4. Question: Analyze the use of animal imagery in "Volpone".

   Answer: Animal imagery is pervasive in "Volpone":

   1. Character Names: Main characters are named after animals that reflect their nature (Volpone - fox, Mosca - fly, Voltore - vulture, etc.).

   

   2. Behavior: Characters often act in ways reminiscent of their animal counterparts.

   

   3. Hierarchy: The animal associations create a predator-prey hierarchy among the characters.

   

   4. Satire: The animal imagery enhances the satirical portrayal of human behavior as bestial.

   

   5. Symbolism: Animals are used symbolically to represent human vices and characteristics.

   This extensive use of animal imagery contributes to the play's satirical tone and moral commentary.

5. Question: Discuss the representation of justice in "Volpone".

   Answer: Justice is a significant theme in "Volpone":

   1. Corruption: The play initially presents a world where justice seems absent or easily subverted.

   

   2. Transformation: As the plot progresses, the mechanisms of justice begin to function more effectively.

   

   3. Punishment: The final act sees the punishment of the guilty, suggesting the ultimate triumph of justice.

   

   4. Complexity: Jonson presents a nuanced view of justice, acknowledging its flaws while affirming its necessity.

   

   5. Social Commentary: The treatment of justice in the play reflects on the legal and moral systems of Jonson's time.

   The play's handling of justice contributes to its moral complexity and social critique.

## Essay Question and Answer (1)

Question: Analyze "Volpone" as a satirical comedy, discussing how Ben Jonson uses character, plot, and language to critique the vices and follies of his society.

Answer: Introduction:

Ben Jonson's "Volpone," first performed in 1605-1606, stands as a masterpiece of satirical comedy in English Renaissance drama. Through its intricate plot, vividly drawn characters, and richly textured language, the play offers a scathing critique of human greed, deception, and moral corruption. This essay will examine how Jonson employs various dramatic and literary techniques to satirize the vices and follies of his society, focusing on his use of character, plot structure, and language.

Character as Satirical Device:

Jonson's characters serve as powerful vehicles for his satirical commentary:

1. Allegorical Names:

The use of animal names for characters (Volpone - fox, Mosca - fly, Voltore - vulture, etc.) immediately establishes them as types representing particular human vices. This allegorical approach allows Jonson to comment on broader societal issues through individual characters.

2. Exaggeration and Caricature:

Jonson exaggerates his characters' traits to the point of caricature, particularly in the case of the legacy hunters. This hyperbole serves to highlight and ridicule specific vices: Voltore's sycophancy, Corbaccio's senile greed, and Corvino's jealousy and willingness to prostitute his wife for gain.

3. Moral Complexity:

While the characters are in many ways caricatures, Jonson imbues them with enough complexity to make them believable and to complicate the audience's moral judgments. Volpone, for instance, is both reprehensible in his actions and charismatic in his theatrical flair.

4. Social Hierarchy:

Through characters like Mosca, a parasite who nearly outwits his master, Jonson satirizes the rigid social hierarchies of his time, suggesting that wit and cunning can overcome accidents of birth.

Plot Structure and Satirical Commentary:

The structure of "Volpone" is carefully crafted to deliver Jonson's satirical message:

1. Escalating Absurdity:

The plot's progression from one outrageous scenario to another (culminating in the court scene) serves to heighten the satirical effect, pushing the audience to recognize the absurdity of the characters' greed-driven actions.

2. Poetic Justice:

The resolution of the plot, in which all the major characters are punished according to their crimes, allows Jonson to comment on the nature of justice and morality in society.

3. Subversion of Expectations:

Jonson plays with audience expectations, particularly in the final act where Mosca nearly succeeds in outwitting Volpone. This subversion keeps the audience engaged while also commenting on the unpredictability of a world driven by greed and deception.

4. Unity of Time and Place:

By adhering to the classical unities, Jonson creates a concentrated, pressure-cooker environment that amplifies the satirical effect of the characters' actions.

Language and Satirical Technique:

Jonson's use of language is a crucial component of his satirical approach:

1. Rhetoric and Parody:

The characters' often grandiose and rhetorically complex speech is used to parody the pretensions of the educated classes and the empty eloquence of lawyers and legacy hunters.

2. Wit and Wordplay:

The clever dialogue, particularly between Volpone and Mosca, serves not only as a source of comedy but also as a demonstration of the characters' cunning and moral flexibility.

3. Animal Imagery:

The pervasive use of animal imagery and metaphors throughout the play reinforces the satirical portrayal of human behavior as bestial and driven by base instincts.

4. Tone Shifts:

Jonson's ability to shift between comedic and more serious tones allows him to balance entertainment with moral commentary, ensuring that the satirical message is not lost in the humor.

Social Critique through Satire:

Through these elements, Jonson offers a multifaceted critique of his society:

1. Greed and Materialism:

The central focus on legacy hunting and Volpone's excessive wealth allows Jonson to comment on the growing materialism of early modern society.

2. Justice System:

The portrayal of the court scene and the initial ease with which characters manipulate legal proceedings offers a critique of the justice system's vulnerabilities.

3. Gender and Power:

Through the treatment of characters like Celia and Lady Would-Be, Jonson comments on gender roles and the position of women in society.

4. Appearance vs. Reality:

The constant theme of deception and disguise allows Jonson to explore the gap between appearance and reality in social interactions.

5. Moral Decay:

The overall portrayal of Venice as a city rife with corruption serves as a thinly veiled critique of Jonson's own London.

Conclusion:

"Volpone" stands as a testament to Ben Jonson's skill as a satirist and social commentator. Through his deft handling of character, plot, and language, Jonson creates a work that is simultaneously entertaining and deeply critical of societal vices. The play's enduring relevance lies in its astute observations of human nature and social behavior, many of which remain applicable today.

Jonson's satire in "Volpone" is not merely destructive; it carries an implicit moral message about the consequences of unchecked greed and the importance of justice. By holding up a mirror to society's follies and vices, Jonson challenges his audience to recognize these flaws in themselves and their world. The play's lasting impact and continued relevance demonstrate the power of satirical comedy to entertain, provoke thought, and potentially inspire social change.