Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does Volpone primarily worship in the play?
What does Volpone primarily worship in the play?
- His family
- His friends
- His wealth (correct)
- His reputation
How does Mosca initially behave towards Volpone?
How does Mosca initially behave towards Volpone?
- With complete independence
- With open hostility
- As an equal partner
- In a servile manner (correct)
What motivates the legacy hunters to present gifts to Volpone?
What motivates the legacy hunters to present gifts to Volpone?
- They are trying to sabotage each other's chances.
- They believe Volpone is ill and want to comfort him. (correct)
- They want to assure themselves a share of his wealth.
- They hope to curry favor to become his friends.
Which character is described as the voice of goodness and religiosity?
Which character is described as the voice of goodness and religiosity?
What is Voltore's profession?
What is Voltore's profession?
Which character is described as Volpone's parasite?
Which character is described as Volpone's parasite?
What is Corvino's primary concern regarding Celia?
What is Corvino's primary concern regarding Celia?
What is the condition that Volpone pretends to have?
What is the condition that Volpone pretends to have?
How is Corbaccio's offering to Volpone characterized?
How is Corbaccio's offering to Volpone characterized?
Which character betrays a lack of concern for Volpone's health?
Which character betrays a lack of concern for Volpone's health?
What strategy does Volpone plan to employ to get a glimpse of Corvino's wife, Celia?
What strategy does Volpone plan to employ to get a glimpse of Corvino's wife, Celia?
What strategy does Volpone use to play with the legacy hunters?
What strategy does Volpone use to play with the legacy hunters?
What outcome does Mosca achieve by the end of the play?
What outcome does Mosca achieve by the end of the play?
Which character believes Volpone to be childless and ill?
Which character believes Volpone to be childless and ill?
What ultimately happens to Volpone at the end of the play?
What ultimately happens to Volpone at the end of the play?
What does Sir Politic wish to do upon meeting Peregrine?
What does Sir Politic wish to do upon meeting Peregrine?
Which character is depicted as a social climber who is resentful of others?
Which character is depicted as a social climber who is resentful of others?
What underlying theme does Volpone's con highlight?
What underlying theme does Volpone's con highlight?
What is the relationship between Mosca and Volpone?
What is the relationship between Mosca and Volpone?
How do Volpone and Mosca react after each legacy hunter leaves their presence?
How do Volpone and Mosca react after each legacy hunter leaves their presence?
What is Corvino's reaction when he sees Celia toss her handkerchief to Scoto Mantua?
What is Corvino's reaction when he sees Celia toss her handkerchief to Scoto Mantua?
What unusual punishment does Corvino impose on Celia as a result of his jealousy?
What unusual punishment does Corvino impose on Celia as a result of his jealousy?
What proposal does Mosca make to Corvino regarding Celia?
What proposal does Mosca make to Corvino regarding Celia?
How does Volpone try to seduce Celia when she is alone with him?
How does Volpone try to seduce Celia when she is alone with him?
What is Mosca doing at the beginning of the third act that indicates his growing independence?
What is Mosca doing at the beginning of the third act that indicates his growing independence?
What complicates the situation in the Venetian Senate regarding Celia and Bonario?
What complicates the situation in the Venetian Senate regarding Celia and Bonario?
How does Volpone decide to prank the legacy hunters at the end of the story?
How does Volpone decide to prank the legacy hunters at the end of the story?
What unexpected action does Peregrine take against Sir Politic?
What unexpected action does Peregrine take against Sir Politic?
What significant event occurs when Bonario witnesses the confrontation between Celia and Volpone?
What significant event occurs when Bonario witnesses the confrontation between Celia and Volpone?
What moral dilemma does Celia face throughout the play?
What moral dilemma does Celia face throughout the play?
What is the primary focus of the subplot involving Sir Politic Would-be?
What is the primary focus of the subplot involving Sir Politic Would-be?
How does Lady Politic Would-be's character influence the plot?
How does Lady Politic Would-be's character influence the plot?
What aspect of Volpone's character highlights the theme of greed?
What aspect of Volpone's character highlights the theme of greed?
What does the character Androgyno represent in the context of the play?
What does the character Androgyno represent in the context of the play?
What is a key moral lesson conveyed through the play's theme of avarice?
What is a key moral lesson conveyed through the play's theme of avarice?
What role does Mosca's statement, 'Everyone's a parasite,' serve in the play?
What role does Mosca's statement, 'Everyone's a parasite,' serve in the play?
Which character keeps Volpone entertained with jokes and songs?
Which character keeps Volpone entertained with jokes and songs?
What is the central irony of greed as depicted in the play?
What is the central irony of greed as depicted in the play?
What effect does the use of stagecraft have in conveying moral truths within the play?
What effect does the use of stagecraft have in conveying moral truths within the play?
Castrone’s character is mainly noted for what defining characteristic?
Castrone’s character is mainly noted for what defining characteristic?
Study Notes
Volpone's Character
- Volpone is a Venetian nobleman, known for his wealth and dishonest means of obtaining it.
- A con artist, he enjoys using his money extravagantly.
- He feigns illness to attract three "legacy hunters," Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino, who seek to inherit his estate.
- Volpone amasses gifts from these hunters, knowing he's in good health.
- Volpone is described as lustful, lecherous, and greedy for pleasure, but also energetic and skilled in rhetoric.
Legacy Hunters
- Voltore is a lawyer, skilled in words and deceit.
- Corbaccio is an old gentleman who, likely to die before Volpone, offers a worthless vial of medicine.
- Corvino, a merchant, is fiercely jealous and prone to violence.
Celia's Position
- Celia, Corvino's wife, is described as one of the most beautiful women in Italy, kept under lock and key by her husband.
- She is a voice of goodness and religiosity in the play, committed to her husband despite his abuse.
- Celia possesses a strong faith in God and a sense of honor, contrasting with the greed and dishonesty of Volpone and Corvino.
Mosca's Role
- Mosca, Volpone's parasite, is a mix of slave, servant, and confidante.
- Initially subservient, Mosca grows increasingly independent as he facilitates Volpone's con.
- Mosca's growing confidence eventually leads him to conflict with Volpone.
The Play's Themes
- Greed: The play emphasizes the destructive nature of greed, highlighting how it leads to foolish and contemptible behavior.
- Stagecraft: The play explores the dichotomy between real-world morality and theatrical illusion, examining how deception and manipulation can be used for both entertainment and exploitation.
- Parasitism: Everyone in the play is portrayed as a parasite, seeking to live off the wealth of others without honest labor. This reflects a social critique of the time.
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Description
Explore the intricate characters of Ben Jonson's 'Volpone', focusing on the titular character, the legacy hunters, and Celia. Understand how each character's traits and motivations contribute to the play's themes of greed and deception. This quiz will deepen your knowledge of these complex figures within the narrative.
