Question

Volpone is a character in a play by

• A. Dr Johnson
• B. Ben Johnson
• C. Richard Sheridan
• D. Oscar Wilde

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Ben Johnson

Ben Jonson: A Renaissance Playwright

• Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was an influential English poet, literary critic, and playwright of the Jacobean era.
• He was a close friend and rival of William Shakespeare.
• Jonson's works are known for their intellectual rigor, classical influences, and satirical portrayal of society.

Volpone: A Masterpiece of Satire

• Volpone is one of Ben Jonson's most famous and enduring plays, first performed in 1606 and published in 1607.
• The play is a comedy that critiques greed, lust, and corruption through its characters and plot.
• The character Volpone is an elderly Venetian nobleman who, feigning illness and imminent death, deceives his parasites (who seek to inherit his fortune) into believing they are his sole heirs.
• Key themes explored in the play include avarice, deception, and the consequences of immoral behavior.
• Jonson's use of satire in Volpone is sharp and biting, exposing the hypocrisy and vanity of human nature.

Exam-Relevant Facts

• Ben Jonson is considered one of the greatest English playwrights after Shakespeare.
• His other notable plays include The Alchemist, Bartholomew Fair, and Every Man in His Humour.
• Jonson's masques, written for courtly entertainment, were also highly regarded.
• Volpone is frequently studied in literature courses and is a common text in competitive examinations focusing on English Literature.
• Pay attention to the names of characters and their symbolic significance in Jonson's plays, as this is a frequent testing point. For instance, the names of the suitors in Volpone (Corvino, Corbaccio, Voltore, Celia, and Bonario) often reflect their character traits or the vices they embody.