"It is a satire [,]"David Bevington writes in his essay about Ben Jonson's Volpone and continues without sparing the question of the play's genre another thought. There is, however, no unanimous opinion on the matter, as the ease with which Bevington comes to his conclusion would suggest. The play is too complex to be classified that quickly.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Volpone – a Satire?
2.1 Influences on Volpone
2.1.1 The Beast Fable
2.1.2 The Morality Play
2.2 Volpone and the Question of Genre
2.2.1 Volpone – a Romance?
2.2.2 Defining Satire
2.2.3 Volpone and the Definition of Satire
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This work examines the literary genre of Ben Jonson's play "Volpone" by analyzing its relationship to various literary traditions, such as the beast fable and the morality play, while critically assessing its classification as a satire in light of its moral didacticism and cynical portrayal of human nature.
- The influence of beast fables and morality plays on characterization in "Volpone".
- A critical evaluation of the "romance" genre classification based on structural open-endedness.
- The definition of satire and its applicability to Jonson's play.
- The role of moral didacticism and the depiction of greed in the play's society.
- The significance of the play's cynical ending regarding the fate of the innocent characters.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 The Beast Fable
One of the more obvious influences on the play is the beast fable, which is defined as a short tale in which "animals and birds speak and behave like human beings [...] usually illustrating some moral point." As Dutton observes, "no other play of its era is so fully peopled with characters who are explicitly animals, birds, and insects, behaving exactly in the manner of Aesop's archetypal beasts, as the text knowingly reminds us." Jonson even gives his characters names which identify them as their animal counterparts in fables. There is Volpone, the protagonist, whose character is almost identical to that of his namesake, the fox. Like the animal, he "feigns death in order to catch predatory birds." The similarities do not end with the actual creature, however. Volpone also shares features which have been ascribed to the fox in mythology. He certainly qualifies as a "crafty shape-shifter", since he spends a large part of the play in disguise, fooling almost everyone around him.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central challenge of classifying "Volpone" as a satire and outlines the research objective to explore secondary genre influences.
2. Volpone – a Satire?: Analyzes whether the play adheres to traditional satirical structures and intentions.
2.1 Influences on Volpone: Investigates how classical traditions shape the play's characters and allegorical depth.
2.1.1 The Beast Fable: Examines the connection between the characters' animalistic traits and their roles in the plot.
2.1.2 The Morality Play: Explores how personified vices and virtues influence the play's moral landscape.
2.2 Volpone and the Question of Genre: Critically evaluates alternative generic classifications of the play.
2.2.1 Volpone – a Romance?: Challenges the theory that the play’s structural deferral qualifies it as a romance.
2.2.2 Defining Satire: Establishes a theoretical framework for satire to test its compatibility with the play.
2.2.3 Volpone and the Definition of Satire: Applies the previously defined criteria to Jonson's portrayal of reality and greed.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, noting that while the play contains satirical elements, its cynical conclusion complicates a simple generic classification.
4. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Ben Jonson, Volpone, Satire, Beast Fable, Morality Play, Genre Theory, Avarice, Moral Didacticism, Social Criticism, Greed, Renaissance Drama, Literature, Cynicism, Venice, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this analysis?
The work investigates the genre of Ben Jonson's play "Volpone," questioning whether it is a true satire or if it is more accurately defined by other literary traditions.
What literary influences are examined in the play?
The research explores the influence of beast fables, where characters mirror animal traits, and morality plays, which feature personified vices and virtues.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine the extent to which "Volpone" functions as a traditional satire and how its complex, often cynical themes impact the play's moral didacticism.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative, comparative literary analysis, evaluating the play against standard definitions of genre and literary theory provided by scholars like Bevington, Sousa, and Dessen.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the historical and literary context of the characters, the structural arguments for labeling the play a "romance," and a detailed examination of satire as a realistic mode of representation.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Ben Jonson, Volpone, satire, beast fable, morality play, greed, and moral didacticism.
Why does the author argue that "Volpone" is not a typical romance?
The author critiques the idea that the play's structural open-endedness aligns it with the romance genre, arguing instead that the ending is a cynical resolution of conflict rather than a generic trait of romance.
How does Jonson portray the justice system in the play?
Jonson depicts the Avocatori as figures easily manipulated by wealth and social status, mirroring the corruption often found in the society of his time.
Does the play ultimately succeed as a moral didactic tool?
The analysis suggests that because the innocent characters remain passive and the ending is cynical, the play undermines conventional morality rather than promoting traditional virtuous behavior.
- Quote paper
- Lynn Bay (Author), 2009, Ben Jonson's "Volpone" - A Satire?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/281902
