Volpone by Ben Jonson

Volpone by Ben Jonson

Finally I have finished Volpone by Ben Jonson which means my compulsory reading for the Christmas holidays is done! (Only 4 days in). That definitely feels good. I'm still not completely sure how I finished Volpone and King Lear but I did. I'm having to read Volpone as it is another text I need to learn for my A2 exam. Ahhhhh! - more quotes to learn. The play was easy to understand on its own but I'm not entirely sure how I will link it with the poet, William Blake but we will have to find out.   

 

It has taken me a while to read Volpone which tells you something- I didn't find it that gripping. Sorry. I was really looking forward to it as one of the main threads of this play is animals and how their animalistic characters link to their humanistic manners. I was excited because somehow I am able to get animals in all my essays- mini task myself during A-Levels- as if they're not hard enough already.

 

There doesn't seem to be any hero in this play as all the characters are selfish and self driven but not for the right reasons. Volpone, who has no legitimate heirs, pretends to be ill and dying so people bring him gifts to persuade him that they are the best heir to put in his will. However none of them are suitable heirs because none of them respect Volpone in the right way.

 

Volpone, the main character, is sly and manipulative in how he orders people around. He treats people (including his 3 dancers- Nano (a dwarf), Androgyno (a hermaphrodite) and Castrone (an eunuch) and his servant Mosca like objects and money as the most valuable thing in the world. Volpone comes across as a character who has got his priorities mixed up but this is the reason why Ben Jonson created him as the main character.

 

Corbaccio (a raven), Corvino (a crow) and Voltore (a vulture) believe they are all rightful heirs and continuously bring gifts to flatter Volpone (a fox) who is helped by his servant Mosca to collect jewels and valuable gifts. However (unrealistically) none of them wonder if this is a scam but if any of them are onto something either Mosca or Volpone will make up something to divert their attention.

 

The only rightful characters in the play, Celia (Corvino's wife) and Bonario (Corbaccio's son) are wrongly accused of being adulterers. Although Celia is the one who is nearly raped and Bonario is the one who is disinherited from his family, they still end up worse for the majority of the play and you begin to doubt what is actually right. The point of these characters, shows how those who have status and links are the ones who thrive in society. I know the play is a true reflection of society but I think that's why I don't love it. It's too real.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my latest book review and I hope you all have a nice Christmas.