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Volpone, The Alchemist
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Volpone, The Alchemist

play by Jonson
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Quick Summary

Ben Jonson's plays, Volpone and The Alchemist, are both five-act comedies that satirize human folly and vice, particularly greed and deception.123

Volpone (c. 1605) centers on a wealthy Venetian, Volpone, who feigns illness to trick fortune hunters into giving him gifts in hopes of inheriting his estate. His servant, Mosca, aids in this scheme, which ultimately unravels, leading to punishments for all involved.1

The Alchemist (1610) follows the servant Face, who, with a fraudulent alchemist named Subtle and their accomplice Dol Common, deceives various clients seeking magical solutions. The plot thickens with the return of the master of the house, Lovewit, leading to the schemers' escape and Face's arrangement of a marriage for his master.2

Both plays showcase Jonson's skill in characterization, intricate plotting, and sharp dialogue, establishing him as a significant English dramatist alongside William Shakespeare.3

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Volpone
  2. The Alchemist
  3. Ben Jonson

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