Volpone by Ben Johnson Summary

Volpone is a play written by the English playwright Ben Jonson. It was first performed in 1606. The title character, Volpone, is a wealthy Venetian nobleman who pretends to be dying in order to swindle greedy legacy hunters out of their wealth. He, along with his assistant Mosca, deceives a series of characters who are eager to be named his heir, each offering gifts in exchange for his favor. The play is a dark comedy and a satire on greed and deception. It is one of Jonson's most famous works and is known for its witty dialogue and intricate plot.

✔️An Overview :
Volpone is a play by Ben Jonson that follows the story of a wealthy Venetian nobleman named Volpone, who pretends to be dying in order to swindle greedy legacy hunters out of their wealth. With the help of his cunning servant Mosca, Volpone deceives a series of characters who are eager to be named his heir.

The play begins with Volpone feigning illness in his bedroom. His servant Mosca skillfully manipulates various legacy hunters—Voltore, a lawyer; Corbaccio, an elderly man; and Corvino, a merchant—by convincing them that they are the likely heirs to Volpone's fortune. Each of them offers Volpone expensive gifts to secure a place in his will.

Mosca takes advantage of Corbaccio's advanced age by convincing him to disinherit his own son and leave his wealth to Volpone instead. Mosca then suggests that Corbaccio include Mosca as the executor of his will, ensuring Mosca's continued involvement in the deception.

Meanwhile, Corvino goes so far as to offer his own wife, Celia, to Volpone in the hopes of securing his inheritance. This despicable proposal leads to one of the play's most shocking scenes, as Volpone tries to seduce Celia while she is being forced by her husband to comply. However, Celia resists and threatens to call out for help, which prompts Volpone to back off.

Later, Bonario, Corbaccio's disinherited son, learns of Mosca's scheme and interrupts Volpone's attempt to seduce Celia. This disruption sets off a chain of events that leads to Volpone and Mosca's downfall.

In court, Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino all testify against Celia and Bonario, but their lies eventually begin to unravel. Mosca tries to manipulate the trial further by pretending to be a witness in favor of the legacy hunters. However, his testimony is inconsistent, and the court starts to suspect foul play.

When Mosca's deception becomes clear, he turns against Volpone, revealing the entire scheme to the court. This revelation leads to Volpone confessing his crimes and admitting that he had been pretending to be on his deathbed all along.

In the end, Volpone is stripped of his wealth and sentenced to a life in a hospital for the incurably ill. Mosca, who had tried to seize Volpone's wealth for himself, is sentenced to work as a galley slave. The legacy hunters—Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino—are all punished as well for their greed and dishonesty.

The play concludes with Volpone reflecting on his misdeeds and the consequences of his actions. He recognizes the destructiveness of greed and the pursuit of wealth at any cost. Jonson's play serves as a moral lesson about the dangers of avarice and deception, providing a darkly comic and satirical look at the corrupting influence of wealth and the lengths people will go to acquire it.

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