Volpone
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
The Argument Prologue Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 1, Scene 4 Act 1, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 6 Act 2, Scene 7 Act 3, Scene 1 Act 3, Scene 2 Act 3, Scene 3 Act 3, Scene 4 Act 3, Scene 5 Act 3, Scene 6 Act 3, Scene 7 Act 3, Scene 8 Act 3, Scene 9 Act 4, Scene 1 Act 4, Scene 2 Act 4, Scene 3 Act 4, Scene 4 Act 4, Scene 5 Act 4, Scene 6 Act 5, Scene 1 Act 5, Scene 2 Act 5, Scene 3 Act 5, Scene 4 Act 5, Scene 5 Act 5, Scene 6 Act 5, Scene 7 Act 5, Scene 8 Act 5, Scene 9 Act 5, Scene 10 Act 5, Scene 11 Act 5, Scene 12
Themes
All Themes Theatre and Appearance vs Reality Money and Commerce Greed and Corruption Gender Roles and Women Language
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Volpone Mosca Voltore Corbaccio Bonario Corvino Celia Sir Politic Would-be Lady Would-be Peregrine
Symbols
All Symbols Disease and Medicine Gold and Alchemy
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Genre Hyperbole Idioms Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Satire Setting Similes Soliloquy Style Tone Verbal Irony
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Volpone

by

Ben Jonson

Volpone Characters

Volpone

Volpone is the play’s central figure. He is an old, rich, childless Italian gentleman with no heir his fortune, and he values wealth above all else. His name means sly fox, which is a perfect… read analysis of Volpone

Mosca

Mosca’s name means fly, and like a fly, Mosca buzzes around whispering in the ears of all the other characters in the play. He is Volpone’s parasite, meaning hanger-on, and he makes his living… read analysis of Mosca

Voltore

Voltore means “vulture,” and, true to his name, Voltore is one of the Italian men lurking around Volpone’s deathbed hoping to inherit his wealth. He is a well-spoken lawyer, and Mosca praises him disingenuously… read analysis of Voltore

Corbaccio

Corbaccio’s name means “raven.” Another bird of prey figure, he is a doddering old man who, like Voltore and Corvino, hopes to be named Volpone’s heir. Corbaccio doesn’t hear well, and he is… read analysis of Corbaccio

Bonario

Corbaccio’s son. Bonario’s name comes from the Italian word for “good,” and he represents goodness in the play. He is a valiant, morally righteous figure who maintains family values despite being disinherited by his… read analysis of Bonario
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Corvino

Corvino, whose name means “crow,” is the final ‘bird’ hoping to inherit Volpone’s wealth. He is a merchant, and he is both greedy and controlling to an extreme. He’s cruel to his wife Celia… read analysis of Corvino

Celia

Celia is Corvino’s wife and her name means “heaven.” She is innocent, good, and religious, and she’s faithful to Corvino despite his suspicious. When Volpone tries to rape her she resists, and in court… read analysis of Celia

Sir Politic Would-be

Sir Politic Would-be is an English knight, but he only gained his knighthood at a time when the English throne sold knighthoods out to make money. As an English traveler in Venice, he has been… read analysis of Sir Politic Would-be

Lady Would-be

Lady Would-be is Sir Politic’s wife. In contrast to Celia, who is confined to her home, Lady Would-be is given a lot of freedom, roaming Venice freely. Lady Would-be also contrasts with the… read analysis of Lady Would-be

Peregrine

Peregrine’s name means “traveler,” and he is another English traveler abroad, a counterpoint to Sir Politic Would-be. Sir Politic offers to help Peregrine learn the ways of Venice and avoid corruption, and Peregrine agrees… read analysis of Peregrine
Minor Characters
Nano
Nano’s name means “dwarf” in Italian, which is fitting, since Nano is a dwarf. He, along with Androgyno and Castrone, is a servant and fool (jester) to Volpone.
Androgyno
Androgyno means “hermaphrodite” in Italian. Like Nano and Castrone, Androgyno is a companion and entertainer to Volpone.
Castrone
Castrone’s name means “eunuch” in Italian. Like Nano and Androgyno, Castrone is a companion to Volpone, but he has very few spoken lines in the play.
Servitore
A servant to Corvino.
Women
Several serving women, attendant on Lady Would-be.
Avocatori
Four magistrates presiding in the court in Venice.
Notario
The court recorder.
Commendatori
Officers in Venice.
Mercatori
Three merchants, used by Peregrine in a prank against Sir Politic Would-be.
Mob / Crowd / Grege
A mob, members of a crowd.
Stone the Fool
A dead English fool who does not appear in the play. Sir Politic Would-be thinks he was a spy.
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