Volpone

Gold represents two distinct but connected ideas in the play. Firstly, gold symbolizes wealth or things of great value. Volpone’s physical hoard of wealth signifies his high social status as a gentleman, and his suitors’ golden gifts signify their desire to attain this status. The characters also use gold imagery and metaphors to indicate all kinds of value. For example, Mosca evokes Celia’s remarkable beauty to Volpone by describing her as “Bright as your gold! And lovely as your gold!” (1.5.115). Mosca develops this connection further when he claims that Corvino locks Celia away “as warily as your gold” (1.5.119). Perceiving Celia’s value, Volpone—an avaricious man—determines he must steal her away from Corvino, who doesn’t appreciate her true worth. Mosca uses similar analogies to praise Voltore’s worthy speech in court, proclaiming he will “ha’ your tongue, sir, tipped in gold for this” (4.6.64).

However, gold also represents vice and helps to develop the theme of The Corrupting Power of Greed. Volpone’s descriptions of his gold contain nearly blasphemous metaphors, illustrating how far he has swayed from virtue and morality. Volpone calls his gold his “saint” (1.