Volpone
The year 1605 marked the beginning of a theatrical experiment in London. Ben Jonson wrote Volpone to premiere at the Globe Theatre during the spring of 1606. This production drew heavily on city comedy traditions and beast fable elements common to the Jacobean era. The play served as a merciless satire targeting human greed and lust. Critics later ranked it among the finest comedies of its time. Jonson intended for the work to expose the corruption of Venetian society through sharp wit. The text appeared in quarto form early in 1607, printed by George Eld for publisher Thomas Thorpe. A dedication to Oxford and Cambridge universities accompanied the initial publication. Fellow poets like Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher contributed commendatory verses in both English and Latin.
Volpone stands as a greedy Venetian magnifico who pretends to be dying to trick others. His servant Mosca acts as a fly that feeds off the decay around him. Voltore appears as a vulture waiting to pick at the bones of the dying man. Corbaccio arrives as a raven, an old miser driven by avarice. Corvino enters the scene as a carrion crow, another merchant seeking inheritance. Lady Would-Be plays the role of a parrot, annoying everyone with ceaseless chatter. These animal names create a hierarchy of predators and scavengers within the narrative. Each character represents a specific vice while interacting with the central deception plot. The symbolism extends to their actions rather than just their dialogue or appearance.
A long illness allows Volpone to pretend he is on his deathbed. Three men arrive at his house bearing luxurious gifts to secure a place in his will. Mosca encourages each visitor to believe they have been named heir to the fortune. He even persuades Corbaccio to disinherit his own son Bonario in favor of Volpone. Disguised as Scoto the Mountebank, Volpone attempts to seduce Celia, the wife of Corvino. When this fails, he tries to rape her instead. Bonario comes forward to rescue Celia from the assault. The truth becomes buried under false evidence presented by Voltore during the trial. Mosca provides lies that convince the Avocatori judges of Venice. The scheme escalates until Volpone reveals himself to topple the rich Mosca. Everyone involved faces punishment for their crimes against one another.
The King's Men performed Volpone at the Globe Theatre in spring 1606. John Lowin may have played the title role according to James Wright's Historia Histrionica published in 1699. An outbreak of plague closed London theatres later that summer or the next. The company performed the play at Oxford and Cambridge during the closure. Jonson added satire on Pythagoras specifically for these academic audiences. Charles II saw the play performed at court on the 16th of October 1662. Michael Mohun played Volpone while Hart portrayed Mosca in Restoration productions. Samuel Pepys witnessed a cast including Katherine Corey and Rebecca Marshall in 1665. Richard Steele mentioned a performance in his 1709 edition of Tatler. Famous eighteenth-century actors included James Quin as Volpone and Charles Macklin as Mosca. Colley Cibber produced versions where his wife Katherine Shore played Celia. Elizabeth Inchbald also took on the role of Celia in later years. The play fell into disuse by the end of the century due to critical objections.
Critics complained about the improbability of the fifth act early in the eighteenth century. They frequently likened the final scenes to farce rather than serious drama. Jonson's highly Latinate language posed another barrier for general audiences. An updated version by George Colman the Elder failed at Drury Lane in 1771. Objections appeared insurmountable to producers by the end of that century. The play lost its appeal before the turn of the nineteenth century. It remained out of use until revived by the Phoenix Society at the Lyric Hammersmith in 1921. W. B. Yeats attended this production and mentioned it approvingly in a letter to Allan Wade. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre staged the play at the Malvern Festival in 1935. Donald Wolfit introduced animal imagery and dynamic performance elements in a 1938 production. His portrayal set the standard for modern interpretations over the following decades. Politick's plot was often truncated or eliminated in these new versions. Mosca became relegated to a secondary role in many subsequent stagings.
Jules Romains and Stefan Zweig adapted Volpone in 1928 with a changed ending where Mosca keeps the money. George Antheil used their script for his 1953 opera titled Volpone. Maurice Tourneur directed a French film released in 1941 after financial difficulties halted production in 1938. A short-lived Broadway musical called Foxy moved the setting to the Yukon during the gold rush of 1898. Joseph L. Mankiewicz created The Honey Pot in 1967 featuring Rex Harrison and Maggie Smith. This version added a romantic subplot and sentimental trappings to the original satire. Larry Gelbart updated Sly Fox to 19th century San Francisco, changing the tone from satire to farce. Jean Meyer directed a 1978 production in France starring himself as Corbaccio and Gérard Depardieu later played Volpone in 2003. The Wolf Trap Opera Company premiered John Musto's score on the 10th of March 2004 at The Barns. This recording was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 2010. Ian McDiarmid starred as Volpone in a BBC Radio 3 production on the 24th of March 2004.
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Common questions
When was the play Volpone by Ben Jonson first performed at the Globe Theatre?
Ben Jonson wrote Volpone to premiere at the Globe Theatre during the spring of 1606. The King's Men performed this production in London before an outbreak of plague closed theatres later that summer.
Who are the main characters in Volpone and what animals do they represent?
Volpone stands as a greedy Venetian magnifico who pretends to be dying while his servant Mosca acts as a fly feeding off decay. Voltore appears as a vulture, Corbaccio arrives as a raven, Corvino enters as a carrion crow, and Lady Would-Be plays the role of a parrot.
What specific events occur when Volpone disguises himself as Scoto the Mountebank?
Disguised as Scoto the Mountebank, Volpone attempts to seduce Celia the wife of Corvino and then tries to rape her when that fails. Bonario comes forward to rescue Celia from the assault but false evidence presented by Voltore buries the truth under lies provided by Mosca.
When was Volpone revived after falling into disuse for nearly two centuries?
The play remained out of use until it was revived by the Phoenix Society at the Lyric Hammersmith in 1921. W. B. Yeats attended this production and mentioned it approvingly in a letter to Allan Wade before the Birmingham Repertory Theatre staged it in 1935.
Which adaptations of Volpone have received critical recognition or awards?
John Musto's score premiered on the 10th of March 2004 at The Barns and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 2010. Ian McDiarmid starred as Volpone in a BBC Radio 3 production on the 24th of March 2004 while George Antheil used a script for his 1953 opera titled Volpone.