Introduction:
”Volpone” by Ben Jonson (1572-1637) has been generally recognized as a beast fable. it is the best paradigm of comedy with touches of humor. Volpone earns money, and wealth by using a sly strategy.
More Notes: Volpone
Volpone’s money and gold/wealth earning methods:
Volpone is the protagonist of the play. he is a very cunning Fox. He has no wife and parent-child or friend to whom he can give his wealth. He despises the standard method of earning money. He does not practice any profession to earn money. He does not do any risky business. He does not cultivate the land as farmers do to earn their livelihood. He has no cattle farm for meat. He also has no factories of iron or oil or corn. He has no mills where workers worked. He does not have ships that face the dangers of the sea waves. He does not keep money in banks on interest. He even does not lend money privately. He has earned his money and wealth in an extraordinary way. He pretends to be sick and dying and slyly extorts money from those who want to be his heirs after his death. Besides Volpone worshiper of gold. He worships gold as his god. He regards gold as the best of things. The place where he keeps his gold is a shrine to him. To him, gold is a saint. He introduces gold as the son of the sun. He thinks that the gold is brighter than the sun. He seems Gold brings more happiness than friends or family. Gold cannot speak or act for itself, but gold makes people speak and act for its owner. In the company of gold, hell can be transformed into heaven. To Volpone, gold is a virtue, fame, honor, and every other desirable thing. One who possesses gold becomes noble, brave, honest, wise, and so on.
Conclusion:
Finally, we can say, Volpone’s excessive love for money or gold is a reflection of materialism. He is the epitome of a modern-day hypocrite.
