Volpone

Volpone is a comedic play by English playwright Ben Jonson, written in 1605-06 and first performed by the King’s Men at the Globe Theatre the same year. The play was first published in a quarto in 1607 and then in an official folio, The Workes of Benjamin Jonson, in 1616. Volpone, like Jonson’s other popular works, is a satire that comments on The Corrupting Power of Greed,     The Moral Impact of Performance, and Seeking Justice in a Corrupt Society. The play follows the cunning Volpone and his sidekick Mosca as they trick gullible suitors out of their fortunes with increasingly risky ruses. Volpone remains Jonson’s most performed play, and it has had award-winning actors like Sir Ralph David Richardson and Paul Scofield play the titular role.

This study guide refers to the 2008 edition of the collection Ben Jonson: The Alchemist and Other Plays published by Oxford University Press.

Content Warning: The play features threats of gendered violence and sexual violence.

Plot Summary

The play opens with its main character, the Venetian gentleman Volpone, expressing his love for gold. His parasitic underling, Mosca, interjects with extra praises for his master.