Volpone as a comedy of Humor
Question: Discuss Volpone as a comedy of Humor.
Introduction: The comedy of humor is a genre of dramatic comedy that focuses on a character or range of characters. Each character exhibits two or more most important traits or humor that govern their personality, desires, and behavior. Jonson’s comedies were different from those of his contemporaries. His comedies have earned a name, comedy of humor. “Volpone” by Ben Jonson (1572-1637) is the best paradigm of the comedy of humor.
Characters based on one humor
Jonson makes his characters based on one humor and they display some funny or ludicrous exaggeration. In “Volpone”, we find that the playwright limns one chief passion that is greed. This greed affects almost all the characters of the play.
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Volpone and Mosca
The play opens with the worship of the gold of the protagonist, Volpone. The spirit of gold-worship surrounds or permeates the whole play. Volpone enjoys collecting or amassing money by his cunning and parasite Mosca who supports every whim or sudden intention of his master or patron. Volpone is even tempted to carnal passion by his parasite. Mosca becomes able to rouse carnal passion within his patron through an outstanding description of Celia’s beauty.
“Bright as your gold and lovely as your gold”
Thus, the only humor of Volpone is to increase wealth and Mosco is the perfect helper only.
The legacy hunters
All the legacy hunters are deeply immersed or absorbed in their passionate greed. Voltore throws away his own honor and the respect of his profession. Corbaccio sacrifices the interests of his own dutiful son and gives false testimony against him in court. Corvino prepares to prostitute his own pious wife and falsely accuses her of being a prostitute. Also, the beautiful Madam Lady Would-be somehow is ready to be involved in gaining at least a portion of Volpone’s wealth. Even the judge, under the lure of gold, dreams of making the former parasite, Mosca, his son-in-law. So, the play presents a picture of stark materialistic passion. Such desire and personality are totally token of the comedy of humor.
Complexity of characters
In a Comedy of Humor, each character shows more traits or humor which makes them complex. This is also clear in the case of Volpone and Mosca. Though greed is the dominant trait in them, there are other traits too in them.
The complexity of Volpone
Volpone is not a mere hoarder of the property but a sensualist. We find him possessing a zest for life. As Corvino leaves, notice what he says.
“Prepare
Me music, dances, banquets, and all delight.
The Turk is not more sensual in his pleasures
Than is Volpone.”
What Volpone displays is the renaissance love for a high lifestyle prompted by a desire to attain transcendence. Further, Volpone is an actor of consummate skill since he puts on the appearance of a sick old man before the legacy hunters. He disguises himself as a mountebank to see Celia and acts the role so convincingly. Later we find him putting on the dress of a Commendatore and teasing all the three legacy hunters. Even when he appears in the court neither the judges nor the other officials find anything suspicious in the imposter. Surely, he is a skilled actor with complex intentions.
The complexity of Mosca
Mosca is a complex character too. This parasite is trying to outwit his patron because he reveals everything before the court in a very abrupt manner. He says.
“I am Volpone and this is my knave
And reverend fathers, since we all can hope
Nought, but a sentence, lets not now despair.”
We find his quick brain though this self-imposed confession contains a lot of puzzling and obnoxious ideas. And when the verdict is over, he says with the same spontaneity:
“This is called the mortifying of the fox.”
Bonario and Celia
Bonario and Celia are minor characters and are shadowy. However, they too play their roles in contributing to the comedy of humor. Both represent the good and the innocence that ultimately comes out successful.
Conclusion: Ben Jonson is the natural genius for the expression of his comedy of humor. And “Volpone” is a striking memento of the comedy of humor because of its defined plot construction.
