Critical Analysis of Volpone by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson’s Volpone (first performed in 1606) stands as one of the greatest comedies of the English Renaissance. Written in the tradition of satire, the play exposes human greed, hypocrisy, and moral corruption through sharp wit, theatrical irony, and highly stylized characters. Unlike Shakespeare, whose plays often balance tragedy and comedy, Jonson embraces classical unity and structure to craft a biting social commentary.

1. Title and Central Theme

The title Volpone (Italian for “the fox”) immediately signals the play’s allegorical mode. Jonson adopts the conventions of beast fable, in which animals represent human vices. Volpone embodies cunning and greed, using his wealth and wit to manipulate those around him. The central theme is the destructive power of avarice—a vice not limited to one character but pervading Venetian society.

2. Plot and Satirical Structure

The plot revolves around Volpone, a wealthy Venetian nobleman, who pretends to be on his deathbed in order to attract greedy legacy hunters—Voltore (the vulture, a lawyer), Corbaccio (the raven, an old miser), and Corvino (the crow, a jealous husband). Each attempts to secure a place in Volpone’s will by offering extravagant bribes, betraying family, or sacrificing dignity.

The comedy lies in the spectacle of these characters exposing their corruption, but Jonson also structures the plot as a moral fable. Unlike the Shakespearean tradition where characters evolve, Jonson’s figures remain fixed “types” of vice. Their downfall is inevitable and instructive, echoing the Aristotelian principle of poetic justice.

3. Characterization

·         Volpone: Charismatic, witty, and unscrupulous, Volpone revels in deception. His famous opening speech to his treasure—“Good morning to the day; and next, my gold!”—establishes his idolatry of wealth. Yet his downfall reflects the dangers of unchecked cunning and greed.

·         Mosca: Volpone’s parasite (literally “the fly”) is central to the action. More than a servant, Mosca manipulates others with verbal dexterity. Critics often see him as Jonson’s most complex character, embodying the parasite archetype but also anticipating the modern trickster figure.

·         Legacy Hunters (Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino): They are satirical portraits of Venetian society’s moral decay—corrupt law, miserly age, and possessive husbandry. Their animal names underline their predatory instincts.

·         Celia and Bonario: They function as moral foils to the corrupt world, though critics argue their passivity makes them less dramatically engaging. Celia’s resistance to Volpone’s advances, however, injects a rare moment of pathos into the satire.

4. Satire and Morality

Jonson’s satire is both comic and moralizing. While audiences laugh at the extravagant schemes and humiliations, the play insists on a deeper critique: society’s obsession with wealth corrupts familial, legal, and marital institutions. Venice, often perceived in Renaissance England as a city of commerce and luxury, becomes a symbolic space for moral bankruptcy.

The ending, in which Volpone and Mosca are punished by the Venetian court, enforces didactic closure. Yet some critics argue that the moral resolution feels imposed, since Jonson delights more in the exuberant wit of Volpone and Mosca than in their downfall.

5. Style and Language

Jonson’s mastery of language is central to Volpone. The play brims with elaborate metaphors, witty repartee, and biting irony. He draws heavily on classical models, particularly Plautus and Terence, but adapts them to Jacobean satire. Unlike Shakespeare’s poetic flights, Jonson’s style is controlled, urbane, and intellectual, reflecting his self-conscious role as a “classicist” playwright.

6. Critical Perspectives

·         Moral Reading: Many see Volpone as a morality play updated for a commercial age, exposing the corrupting influence of gold.

·         Carnivalesque Reading (Mikhail Bakhtin): Others emphasize its festive inversion of social norms, where tricksters (Volpone and Mosca) momentarily outwit authority before order is restored.

·         Economic Criticism: Some modern critics interpret the play as a commentary on early capitalism, where wealth is no longer tied to productive labor but circulates as spectacle and manipulation.

·         Feminist Criticism: Celia’s objectification by Corvino and Volpone highlights the commodification of women, though Jonson’s limited empowerment of female characters remains problematic.

7. Relevance Today

Though rooted in Renaissance Venice, Volpone’s themes remain strikingly relevant. The obsession with wealth, the corrupting influence of greed, the exploitation of legal and marital systems, and the moral compromises of ambition all resonate in modern capitalist societies. In this sense, Jonson’s satire anticipates contemporary critiques of consumerism and moral vacuity.

8. Conclusion

Volpone is not only a brilliant comedy of trickery but also a biting social critique. Jonson fuses classical models, moral allegory, and satirical wit to expose greed as a universal vice. While some critics question whether the play’s didactic closure matches its exuberant satire, Volpone endures as a powerful exploration of wealth’s corrupting power, one that continues to amuse, disturb, and provoke critical reflection.

Multiple Choice Questions 

 Part I: 

Q1. Volpone was first performed in:
a) 1599
b) 1606
c) 1611
d) 1623
Answer: b) 1606

Q2. What does the name Volpone literally mean in Italian?
a) The Crow
b) The Fox
c) The Vulture
d) The Raven
Answer: b) The Fox

Q3. Which of the following characters is Volpone’s parasite?
a) Voltore
b) Corvino
c) Mosca
d) Bonario
Answer: c) Mosca

Q4. Who is Celia married to?
a) Bonario
b) Voltore
c) Corvino
d) Corbaccio
Answer: c) Corvino

Q5. Which animal is associated with Voltore?
a) Vulture
b) Crow
c) Raven
d) Hawk
Answer: a) Vulture

Q6. Who attempts to disinherit his son in order to gain Volpone’s wealth?
a) Voltore
b) Corvino
c) Corbaccio
d) Mosca
Answer: c) Corbaccio

Q7. What literary form does Volpone closely follow?
a) Romance
b) Beast fable and satire
c) Epic tragedy
d) Pastoral comedy
Answer: b) Beast fable and satire

Q8. What is the punishment of Mosca at the end of Volpone?
a) He is pardoned
b) He is hanged
c) He is banished from Venice
d) He becomes rich
Answer: b) He is hanged

Q9. Who rescues Celia from Volpone’s attempted seduction?
a) Voltore
b) Corvino
c) Bonario
d) Corbaccio
Answer: c) Bonario

Q10. Volpone is set in which city?
a) Florence
b) Rome
c) Venice
d) Milan
Answer: c) Venice

Part II: UGC-NET PYQs (Direct & Related)

PYQ 1 (UGC NET 2013, June):
Volpone is a play written by:
a) Christopher Marlowe
b) Ben Jonson
c) John Webster
d) Thomas Kyd
Answer: b) Ben Jonson

PYQ 2 (UGC NET 2014, December):
In Volpone, who is described as “the parasite”?
a) Corvino
b) Voltore
c) Mosca
d) Bonario
Answer: c) Mosca

PYQ 3 (UGC NET 2017, July):
Which of the following plays by Ben Jonson is set in Venice and satirizes greed?
a) The Alchemist
b) Volpone
c) Bartholomew Fair
d) Every Man in His Humour
Answer: b) Volpone

PYQ 4 (UGC NET 2018, January):
Match the characters in Volpone with their symbolic animal representations:

(i) Volpone – (1) Crow
(ii) Corvino – (2) Fox
(iii) Voltore – (3) Raven
(iv) Corbaccio – (4) Vulture

Options:
a) i–2, ii–1, iii–4, iv–3
b) i–3, ii–2, iii–4, iv–1
c) i–1, ii–3, iii–2, iv–4
d) i–4, ii–2, iii–1, iv–3

Answer: a) i–2, ii–1, iii–4, iv–3

PYQ 5 (UGC NET 2020, June):
Which of the following best describes Ben Jonson’s Volpone?
a) A tragicomedy set in Florence
b) A satire on greed set in Venice
c) A romance in pastoral mode
d) A history play in chronicle tradition
Answer: b) A satire on greed set in Venice

 

How to Write Critical Appreciation of a Poem

 

1. Introduction of the Poem

·         Give the title, poet’s name, and context (literary period, background, etc.).

·         Briefly introduce the subject matter.

Ø  Example:
In William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils”, a simple scene of daffodils blooming in the countryside is transformed into a meditation on the healing power of nature. The poem, a hallmark of Romantic poetry, celebrates the bond between human emotions and the natural world.

2. Theme and Subject Matter

·         What is the poem about?

·         What central ideas does it convey—love, death, nature, identity, spirituality, politics, etc.?

Ø  Example:
The central theme of “Daffodils” is the restorative influence of nature on the human mind. While the poet initially describes the beauty of the flowers, the deeper meaning lies in how the memory of that scene continues to provide joy and solace.

3. Form and Structure

·         Type of poem: sonnet, ode, ballad, free verse, etc.

·         Rhyme scheme, stanzaic pattern, meter.

·         Any structural features (repetition, refrains, shifts in tone).

Ø  Example:
The poem is written in four six-line stanzas (quatrains with couplets) following an ABABCC rhyme scheme. This harmonious structure mirrors the calm and order of nature.

4. Language and Style

·         Diction: simple, complex, archaic, colloquial?

·         Figures of speech: similes, metaphors, personification, symbolism, imagery.

·         Tone: joyful, melancholic, ironic, satirical?

Ø  Example:
Wordsworth personifies the daffodils as “dancing in the breeze,” giving them a life-like quality. The use of visual imagery (“a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils”) creates a vivid picture, while the simile “continuous as the stars that shine” suggests endless beauty.

5. Poetic Devices

·         Sound devices: alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia.

·         Symbolism: what deeper meanings do images carry?

·         Contrast and paradox.

Example:
The alliteration in “beside the lake, beneath the trees” creates a musical effect. The daffodils symbolize joy and harmony, contrasted with the speaker’s initial loneliness.

6. Tone and Mood

·         What emotional atmosphere does the poem create?

·         How does it shift (e.g., from sorrow to joy)?

Ø  Example:
The poem begins with a tone of solitude (“I wandered lonely as a cloud”) but shifts to joy and gratitude as the memory of the daffodils uplifts the poet’s spirit.

7. Personal Interpretation / Critical Evaluation

·         What is the poet’s achievement?

·         How effective is the poem in conveying its message?

·         Relevance for readers today?

Ø  Example:
“Daffodils” remains one of the most enduring Romantic poems because of its universal theme—the healing power of memory and nature. Its simplicity of language, coupled with its deep emotional resonance, ensures that it continues to inspire readers across cultures.

 

An Essay of Dramatic Poesy by John Dryden

 

1. Introduction

·         Written in 1668, during the Restoration period, while London theatres had reopened after being closed during the Puritan rule.

·         Dryden (1631–1700): Poet Laureate, first major English literary critic.

·         An Essay on Dramatic Poesy is a dialogue between four characters, set against the backdrop of the Second Dutch War (1665).

·         Aim: To defend the value of drama and establish English drama’s worth compared to classical and French models.

2. Structure and Form

·         A dialogue in prose, not a formal treatise.

·         Four interlocutors:

o    Crites → defends the ancients (classical drama).

o    Eugenius → supports the moderns (English dramatists of the time).

o    Lisideius → argues for French drama (regular, rule-bound, neoclassical).

o    Neander (represents Dryden) → defends English drama, especially Shakespeare.

3. Central Issues Discussed

(a) Ancients vs Moderns

·         Crites: Ancient dramatists (Aristotle, Sophocles, Euripides, Plautus, Terence) set the rules; moderns merely imitate them.

·         Eugenius: Moderns improve upon the ancients in characterization, plot complexity, and natural dialogue.

(b) French vs English Drama

·         Lisideius praises French drama:

o    Observes three unities (time, place, action).

o    Structured, elegant, decorous.

o    Avoids mixing tragedy with comedy.

o    More believable and morally instructive.

·         Neander (Dryden) defends English drama:

o    Richer variety: blends tragedy and comedy (tragi-comedy).

o    More realistic representation of life.

o    Use of subplots adds depth.

o    Greater emotional impact; appeals to human nature more vividly.

o    Shakespeare praised for “larger, looser, and freer” spirit, even if he broke classical rules.

(c) Use of Rhyme in Drama

·         Contemporary debate: blank verse vs rhymed verse.

·         Neander/Dryden argues:

o    Rhyme adds decorum, elevation, and delight.

o    Helps structure and control expression.

o    Blank verse is too close to prose, lacks the polish needed for drama.

4. Dryden’s Critical Positions

·         Drama as imitation (follows Aristotle’s mimesis).

·         The end of drama is delight and instruction (Horatian principle).

·         Rules vs genius: Rules (classical unities) are useful, but true greatness comes from natural genius (e.g., Shakespeare).

·         Catharsis: Not explicitly discussed, but Dryden accepts Aristotle’s notion of purging emotions through pity and fear.

·         Practical criticism: Dryden applies theory to actual dramatists, not abstract speculation.

5. Key Quotations

·         Lisideius describes a play as a "just and lively image of human nature, representing its passions and humours" for "delight and instruction of mankind". “Imitation of nature is the chief end of the poet.”

·         Crites portrays Ben Jonson as an imitator and "learned plagiary" of ancient writers.

·         Neander distinguishes Shakespeare's natural genius, calling him "the Homer...of our dramatic poets." He says for Shakespeare and Jonson that "I admire him, but I love Shakespeare".

6. Importance of the Essay

·         First major work of literary criticism in English.

·         Establishes comparative criticism (ancient vs modern, French vs English).

·         Advocates a liberal humanist view: rules matter, but genius and audience delight matter more.

·         Balances neoclassical discipline with English dramatic freedom.

7. Critical Reception & Legacy

·         Seen as a landmark in English criticism.

·         Influenced Augustan critics (Pope, Johnson).

·         Dryden’s defense of Shakespeare paved the way for later Romantic critics.

·         Shows early modern England’s search for a national literary identity.

Relevance in Present Day Perspective

1. Comparative Criticism

·         Dryden set up a model of evaluating texts by comparing ancients vs moderns, French vs English.

·         Today, comparative literature and cross-cultural analysis follow the same method.

·         Modern scholars often place Shakespeare next to Ibsen, Brecht, or Indian dramatists—the same spirit of comparative inquiry Dryden pioneered.

2. Rules vs Creativity Debate

·         Dryden asked: Should writers follow strict rules (Aristotle, French unities), or should they trust creative genius (like Shakespeare)?

·         This debate continues today in:

o    Creative writing pedagogy: Should students stick to “forms” or experiment?

o    Cinema/Drama: Formulaic genres vs experimental narratives.

·         Dryden’s flexible answer (“rules help, but genius matters more”) still resonates in art and literature studies.

3. National vs Global Literature

·         Dryden defended English drama against French classical models.

·         Today, nations still wrestle with balancing local/national literary identity against global or Western standards.

·         Example: Indian English theatre vs Western drama traditions.

4. Mixed Genres and Hybridity

·         Dryden praised English drama for blending tragedy and comedy (tragi-comedy).

·         Modern literature and media are full of hybrids: tragicomedies, dramedies, magic realism, postmodern pastiche.

·         Dryden’s defense of “mixture” anticipates today’s embrace of genre-fluid storytelling.

5. Criticism as Dialogue

·         The essay is in dialogue form, not a rigid treatise.

·         This conversational, plural-voiced style mirrors contemporary critical practices, which value dialogue, diversity of perspectives, and debate rather than absolute authority.

6. Practical Criticism

·         Dryden discusses actual writers (Shakespeare, Jonson, Fletcher), not just abstract rules.

·         This approach—close reading + practical examples—is central to modern literary criticism and pedagogy.

7. The Role of Drama in Society

·         Dryden emphasized that drama should delight and instruct.

·         Today, debates on literature’s purpose (entertainment vs education, art vs ideology) echo the same tension.

·         For instance: Is Netflix drama just entertainment, or can it also be socially instructive?

8. Legacy in Literary Theory

·         Dryden paved the way for later critics (Johnson, Coleridge, Arnold, Eliot).

·         His balancing act between classicism and creativity foreshadows later theoretical debates (structuralism vs poststructuralism, tradition vs innovation).

Conclusion

The relevance of Dryden’s Essay on Dramatic Poesy lies in its timeless questions:

·         Should art follow rules or break them?

·         What is the balance between national tradition and global influence?

·         What is the purpose of drama: pleasure, instruction, or both?

These remain the central debates of literary and cultural criticism today, making Dryden’s essay not just a Restoration document but a living text in critical theory.

 Very Short Answer Type Questions (1–2 lines)

Q1. In which year was An Essay on Dramatic Poesy published?
Ans. It was published in 1668 during the Restoration period.

Q2. Who are the four speakers in the dialogue?
Ans. Crites, Eugenius, Lisideius, and Neander (Dryden’s persona).

Q3. What is the main aim of the essay?
Ans. To defend the value of drama and establish the worth of English drama.

Q4. Which dramatist does Dryden praise as having the “largest and most comprehensive soul”?
Ans. William Shakespeare.

Q5. Who among the characters defends French drama?
Ans. Lisideius.

Q6. What dramatic principle does Crites support?
Ans. He supports the authority of the ancients and classical rules.

Q7. What is Dryden’s view on rhyme in drama?
Ans. He supports rhyme, claiming it adds decorum, elevation, and delight.

Q8. Which literary war forms the backdrop of the essay?
Ans. The Second Dutch War (1665).

Q9. What two functions of drama does Dryden emphasize?
Ans. Drama should both delight and instruct.

Q10. What is the form of An Essay on Dramatic Poesy?
Ans. A dialogue in prose.

Short Answer Type Questions (3–5 sentences)

Q1. What is the central debate in An Essay on Dramatic Poesy?
Ans. The central debate concerns whether ancient dramatists are superior to moderns, and whether French drama, which follows strict classical rules, is better than English drama, which mixes comedy and tragedy. Through the dialogue, Dryden presents multiple perspectives but ultimately defends English drama.

Q2. How does Dryden (through Neander) defend English drama?
Ans. Neander argues that English drama better imitates real life by blending tragedy and comedy. He praises the use of subplots and variety, which makes English plays more engaging and emotionally powerful. He defends Shakespeare as a genius who transcends rigid rules.

Q3. What role does the debate on rhyme vs blank verse play in the essay?
Ans. Dryden, through Neander, defends the use of rhyme in serious plays, arguing it adds structure, elegance, and delight. Critics of rhyme, however, see it as artificial compared to blank verse. The debate reflects Restoration experiments with rhymed heroic plays.

Q4. Why is An Essay on Dramatic Poesy considered important in English criticism?
Ans. It is the first major critical work in English literature that applies comparative criticism. Dryden combines classical authority with practical analysis of contemporary playwrights, creating a foundation for modern literary criticism.

Q5. What is the relevance of the essay today?
Ans. The essay raises timeless issues—rules vs creativity, national vs global literary standards, the purpose of art, and the value of genre hybridity. These debates continue in contemporary literature, theatre, and film, making Dryden’s criticism still significant.

Long Answer Type Question

Q. Critically examine Dryden’s An Essay on Dramatic Poesy as a defence of English drama.

Answer

Introduction
John Dryden’s An Essay on Dramatic Poesy (1668) is the first significant work of English literary criticism. Written in dialogue form, it presents four interlocutors—Crites, Eugenius, Lisideius, and Neander—who debate the relative merits of ancient, modern, French, and English drama. While the essay engages with classical rules and neoclassical ideals, it ultimately serves as Dryden’s defence of the richness and vitality of English theatre.

1. Ancients vs Moderns

·         Crites defends the ancients, insisting they established the permanent rules of drama.

·         Eugenius counters by claiming that modern dramatists surpass the ancients in plot construction, characterization, and natural dialogue.

·         Through this debate, Dryden situates English drama as an heir to tradition but not bound by it.

2. French vs English Drama

·         Lisideius praises French drama for its strict adherence to the three unities of time, place, and action, its elegance, and its moral refinement.

·         Neander, Dryden’s mouthpiece, defends English drama for its freedom, variety, and truth to life.

·         He praises the English practice of mixing tragedy with comedy, the use of subplots, and the emotional power of dramatists like Shakespeare and Fletcher.

·         Shakespeare, according to Dryden, had the “largest and most comprehensive soul,” whose genius outweighed technical irregularities.

3. Debate on Rhyme in Drama

·         A central concern of Restoration drama was whether plays should be written in rhyme or blank verse.

·         Neander argues for rhyme in serious drama, claiming it adds structure, polish, and delight, though he admits it must not sound forced.

·         This shows Dryden’s attempt to adapt classical principles to contemporary English tastes.

4. Purpose of Drama

·         Dryden asserts that the purpose of drama is both delight and instruction (Horatian principle).

·         English plays, though less regular, achieve this by appealing directly to human nature and emotions, thus effecting a deeper impact on audiences.

5. Critical Significance

·         The essay is not dogmatic; instead, it presents multiple perspectives and concludes with a balanced defence of English theatre.

·         It is practical criticism: Dryden evaluates real playwrights (Shakespeare, Jonson, Fletcher) rather than abstract theory.

·         It marks a transition in English criticism, blending classical respect with modern flexibility.

Conclusion

An Essay on Dramatic Poesy is Dryden’s attempt to reconcile classical authority with the creative vitality of English drama. By defending English dramatists’ freedom, variety, and emotional power against the rigidities of French neoclassicism, Dryden articulates a vision of literature that values both rules and genius. The essay thus remains a landmark in English criticism and a precursor to later debates about art’s function, rules, and national literary identity.