In essence, its a dark satire on greed and lust, and remains jonsons most performed work. Theatre and appearance vs reality like other elizabethan and jacobean playwrights, jonson explores the relationship between appearance and reality, of seeming versus beingwhich, of course, evokes the theatre itself. Industrial cinematografica produced a spanish version of volpone, entitled tiburon, in 1933. A shortlived 1964 broadway musical adaptation entitled foxy moved the plays setting to the yukon during the gold rush of 1898. Volpone harry baur is a rich but miserly man who resides in venice, italy. Critics commended its disciplined excess and stylized but acutely recognizable world of rampant immorality paul taylor, the telegraph, 29 july 1995. The next victim is corbaccio who is older than volpone and is certainly nearer to death than him. Volpone fox, a wealthy venetian without heirs, devises a scheme to become wealthier by playing on peoples greed. Finally he is betrayed by his closest friend and punished.
Volpone is recognised as one of jonsons major works. He is inundated with valuable gifts, and soon finds himself entangled deeper and. Or, the fox by ben jonson dramatis personae volpone, a magnifico castrone, an eunuch mosca, his parasite androgyno, an hermaphrodite voltore, an advocate grege or mob corbaccio an old gentleman commandadori, officers of justice corvino, a merchant avocatori, three magistrates bonario, son to corbaccio notario, the register nano, a dwarf celia, corvinos. In 1941 a french film version was released, under the direction of noted filmmaker maurice tourneur.
After each gull is fleeced before our eyes, mosca encourages volpone to think of seeking a greater treasure than gold. Ben jonson, a contemporary and friend of shakespeare, wrote this black comedy about a long con. Paul scofield, in full david paul scofield, born january 21, 1922, hurstpierpoint, sussex, englanddied march 19, 2008, english actor noted for his powerful performances in shakespearean and other stage roles scofield was trained as an actor at the croydon repertory theatre school 1939 and at the mask theatre school 1940 in london. Volpone, comedy in five acts by ben jonson, performed about 160506 and published in 1607. Also naively competing for volpone s wealth is lady wouldbe, the affected wife of an english knight, sir politic wouldbe.
Swan theatre, stratforduponavon 3 july 12 sept 2015. Nor like the merchant, who hath filld his vaults with romagnia, and rich candian wines, yet drinks the lees of lombards vinegar. At first, volpone is unresponsive to this kind of talk. Despite this masterpiece status, this play is seldom performed in this country and, until now, the most readily located video version was in french. Goodman also suggests that volpone is an actor who. Both characters are devious, witty, and sly, but volpone is the mastermind of the pairs crafty plots, while mosca. A venetian swindler goes from town to town pretending to be a dying millionaire in order to attract and dispose of greedy. The act of being greedy necessarily brings on its own punishment. Volpone is categorised as a satirical comedy which draws on an eclectic mix of elements from city comedy, black comedy and beast fable genres. Written by ben jonson, it was first produced in 1606 and billed as a comedy, although it also includes elements of tragedy and even animal fable volpone is italian for fox.
Volpone is generally considered his masterwork and, as such, it has become a standard anthology piece. Jonson set volpone in venice, a great and wealthy trading city known as much for the doubledealing of its merchants as for the faithlessness of its women. Both characters are devious, witty, and sly, but volpone is the mastermind of the pairs crafty plots, while. Director trevor nunn explains the background and story of ben jonsons play volpone. A1 s4 my life for his corbaccio says he would be willing to wager his live against volpones hidden suggestion he. Volpone has long been a popular choice as a set text for students.
This version was used by george antheil in his 1953 opera volpone. The track was also featured in the columbia pictures film americas sweethearts. Librivox recording of volpone, or, the fox by ben jonson. Set in venice, the play is both a city comedy and a type of beast fable, in which the wily and goldobsessed trickster volpone, or fox, dupes a range of foolish venetians and foreigners with. His servant mosca louis jouvet cooks up a plot that will accomplish two things volpone approves of. Mockery brings wisdomin the light of this view, discuss the ways in which writers make use of humour. Cette film volpone originale est une pepite des films tv.
But london in the early years of the 17th century, where jonson lived and worked, was also a place where an unregulated capitalism was letting rip, where speculation and profiteering ran riot, displacing many of the old certainties of life. The main character, volpone, is a rich italian businessman who pretends that he is dying so that people give him gifts. After a sensuous description by mosca, volpone resolves to see this paragon of beauty. Social criticism in ben jonsons volpone english literature essay. The film stars enrico montesano, enrico maria salerno and paolo villaggio. United artists produced a version of volpone, entitled the honey pot, in 1967. Mar 30, 2020 volpone, comedy in five acts by ben jonson, performed about 160506 and published in 1607. With the complicity of his servant mosca fly, volpone pretends to be near death. Lesen bearbeiten quelltext bearbeiten versionsgeschichte. Some 400 years after it was written, the play, about compulsive acquisitiveness and abuse of privilege, still resonates with its audience. Volpones song to celia aubrey beardsleys front cover to volpone this weeks poem is from volpone, by ben jonson, a biting, hilarious satire set in venice about a man undone by his own greed and lust, who undoes a good many others in the process and has some rather wicked fun on the way though not as much as he intends. Volpone is a comedy by ben jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. Jul 10, 2015 goodmans volpone is a sharpsuited plutocrat whose opening hymn to gold is underscored by sacred music.
Also naively competing for volpones wealth is lady wouldbe, the affected wife of an english knight, sir politic wouldbe. Volpone, an elderly venetian, connives with his moneycrazed servant to convince his greedy friends that he is dying, knowing that each will try to curry favor with him in order to be named his heir. Mosca, taking advantage of the confusion, bargains with volpone for half of the foxs fortune. After touring with companies entertaining the troops. A movie production of ben jonsons satirical comedy volpone enacted by tetso college ba 3rd semester english honours. Written by ben jonson, it was first produced in 1606 and billed as a comedy, although it also includes elements of tragedy and even animal fable volpone is. Volpone and his band seven and the sun, were signed to atlantic records in 1999. Volpone says, what a rare punishment is avarice to itself. Volpone, in an aside to the audience, remarks that the body will be cozened and alive. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in volpone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. All the characters in the play are named after animals, and volpone means fox. Volpone was adapted by jules romains and stefan zweig in their 1928 production, with the ending changed so that mosca ends up with volpone s money. Only you, of all the rest, are he commands his love, and you do wisely to preserve it thus, with early visitation, and kind notes of your good meaning to him, which, i know, cannot but come most grateful.
The role of volpone, craftily feigning illness to scam presents. Volpone and mosca are the two principal characters in ben jonsons comedy volpone. This version yoked the talents of michael gambon as volpone and simon russell beale as mosca, and ultimately won director matthew warchus an olivier award nomination. An introduction to volpone the plays magnificent humour fizzes and sparkles amidst its darkly satiric commentary on emergent capitalism and the degeneration of social, familial, moral and legal codes. You will not lie in straw, whilst moths and worms feed on. Social criticism in ben jonsons volpone english literature. Feb 22, 2015 volpones song to celia aubrey beardsleys front cover to volpone this weeks poem is from volpone, by ben jonson, a biting, hilarious satire set in venice about a man undone by his own greed and lust, who undoes a good many others in the process and has some rather wicked fun on the way though not as much as he intends. Read in english by a full cast volpone is a comedy by ben jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. Jun 24, 2003 volpone is recognised as one of jonsons major works. Yet this version of volpone represents an interesting problem in crosscultural adaptation.
Jul 28, 2015 director trevor nunn explains the background and story of ben jonsons play volpone. With harry baur, louis jouvet, charles dullin, jean temerson. Satire is important in understanding humour and can be described as a genre in. The plays moral stance towards greed and corruption is outlined by volpone at the beginning of the play, despite the fact that even he eventually falls prey to it. With gerard depardieu, daniel prevost, gerard jugnot, robert hirsch. Some 400 years after it was written, the play, about compulsive acquisitiveness and abuse of. Volpone or the fox lopez community theatre 20 on vimeo. Nonetheless, under the pressure of events, he agrees to the terms. Corbaccio, bringing volpone medicine most likely to be poison, mosca states he will not hear of drugs suggesting the suspicion of poison meant to kill volpone faster. Synopsis volpone royal shakespeare company youtube. Mockery, wisdom, humour and satire in ben jonsons volpone. Volpone themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.
The theme of greed and corruption in volpone from litcharts. Volpone, childless and rich, and his servant and parasite, mosca, are playing a cunning and farcical game of deceit with three supposed friends who have each set their sights on becoming volpones sole heir. Il volpone is a 1988 italian comedy film directed in by maurizio ponzi, inspired by ben jonsons comedy with the same name. When volpone speaks of being raised in several shapes, this makes a biblical allusion to lazarus being raised from the dead, but is also profanely and ironically a phallic joke. The latter was itself an adaptation of an earlier work, a play of the same name by the english. The dialogue between volpone and voltore is a perfect example of the trickster tricked idea. Goodmans volpone is a sharpsuited plutocrat whose opening hymn to gold is underscored by sacred music. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains jonsons mostperformed play, and it is among the finest jacobean era comedies. A venetian swindler goes from town to town pretending to be a dying millionaire in order to attract and dispose of greedy friends. Il volpone is a 1988 italian comedy film directed in by maurizio ponzi, inspired by ben jonsons. Volpone was adapted by jules romains and stefan zweig in their 1928 production, with the ending changed so that mosca ends up with volpones money. And besides, sir, you are not like a thresher that doth stand with a huge flail, watching a heap of corn, and, hungry, dares not taste the smallest grain, but feeds on mallows, and such bitter herbs. His attempts to become heir to soontodie volpone suggest that people do not change over time. On voit apparaitre les acteurs qui maitrisent leurs roles parfaitement.