Greed and Moral Decadence in Volpone

As we know Literature serves as a mirror to society, it reflects the ills of the society with a view to make it acknowledge its mistakes and make amends. So basically, it will criticise the follies of individuals as well as the society to ‘make things better’.  

The destructive repercussion of greed is undeniable in human life. Since time immemorial, it has been the driving force behind numbers of personal, social, and historical tragedies. The desire for more has led individuals and societies to devastation. 

In Ben Jonson’s play Volpone, the characters and their actions serve as samples that can be dissected to understand various aspects of human nature and behaviour. Through the cunning and manipulative actions of the main character Volpone, we are confronted with questions about greed, deception and the lengths to which an individual could go to achieve their desire. Unfortunately, Greed has always been a dominant part of the human psyche. It has been the cause of countless conflicts—internal and external, and ultimately, individual’s self-destruction which is shown in Volpone as well. 

When Volpone says “what a rare punishment is avarice to itself” (act 1, scene 4), he uses this statement to mock the greed of the legacy hunters, believing they deserve a punishment for their greed. His comment, however, also foreshadows his own punishment that befalls on him at the end of the novel, when he becomes the victim to his own greed. It is something that happens in our real life, we fall for our own greed and lose control over the situation. 

Volpone can be taken as a satire that exposes the darker side of human mind; a play that explores the themes of greed, deception and moral decay that prevail the society. At the beginning of the play, Volpone is portrayed as a wealthy nobleman who camouflages to be fatally ill so that he could cheat people. He successfully convinces the legacy-hunters to bestow gifts upon him in hope to get his entire property in return. Volpone’s and even the legacy-hunters’ perverted and manipulative behaviour shows how deeply greed is ingrained in their psyche. This treatment of greed and deception in Volpone sheds light on the darker side of human behaviour and serves as a commentary on the moral decay. In our real life, we see a lot of people who can do literally anything to fulfil their desire for wealth and pleasure. Volpone’s character serves as a microcosm of a society driven by greed and hedonism whose moral compass has been completely skewed where values and ethics hold no significance. 

The ravaging consumerism today is also a living manifestation of greed. Individuals are often tempted to buy latest gadgets, branded clothes or vain luxury items because they are driven by their insatiable desire to keep up with the arbitrary and superficial norms of the society so that they may flex in front of their peers. They are so possessed by their desire that they lose their ability to think and chose rationally and protect themselves from unnecessary stress in an already difficult life. They do not even care if it leads to longstanding financial instability or even unwanted debts. It is painful to admit how people today have forgotten that “we have a family to feed, not a community to impress”. 

Another manifestation of greed can be found in our personal relationships where individuals often prioritize their own desires over the needs of those whom they claim to love and care for. This can be seen in surging cases of infidelity where an individual selfishly seeks to fulfil their own emotional or physical needs without thinking even for a moment that they are cheating upon their partner. Such instances are especially common in the workplace where men and women heedlessly cheat behind their partners. 

Similarly, in Volpone the theme of greed has been developed well by Ben Jonson who critiques the avarice that drives individuals to extreme lengths for personal gain, as portrayed through the characters such as Volpone, and Mosca. Verily, Volpone stands as a mirror to society, which accentuates (so that we may ponder over) the darker aspects of human behaviour and the consequences of greed on both individual and society. The powerful satire of the play is successful in making us think about the absurdity of human desires and about the extremes individuals will go to satisfy their own selfish needs. It is therefore better for us to remember that karma neither forgets nor forgives. We should not forget that when we indulge in greed or any other vice, we are always at the mercy of karma (or divine justice, whatever we call it)—sooner or later vices will always be punished, as iterated in the end of the play where one of the juries says: 

Let all that see these vices thus rewarded 

Take heart, and love to study’em.

Mischiefs feed like beasts

Till they be fat, and then they bleed. 

About the Author

Ananya Mishra is proficient in English and Hindi, excelling in reading, writing, and speaking both languages. Her hobbies include reading books, writing poetry and stories, and singing. With a passion for literature and teaching, Ananya aspires to become a lecturer. She is currently pursuing her Masters in English Literature from Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh.