Samuel Taylor Coleridge said of Ben Jonson's The Alchemist that it had one out of the three most perfect plots in literature. This play, with its sharp portrayal of human folly, is considered by many to be Jonson's best comedy. First performed 1610, its popularity has endured to this day.

Volpone by Ben Jonson is offered here in a clean English digital edition prepared for fluent ebook reading. The work stands within shakespeare and gives modern readers direct access to a public-domain classic with navigable structure and a restrained typographic presentation. The opening pages establish the book's atmosphere with this first movement: Act I Scene 1 Act II Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Act III Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Act IV Scene 1 Scene 2 Act V Scene 1 Sce...

"Sejanus: His Fall" by Ben Jonson portrays the downfall of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, a historical figure who rose to power as the commander of the Praetorian Guard in ancient Rome. The play explores themes of political ambition, corruption, and the dangers of seeking too much power. Sejanus conspires to overthrow Emperor Tiberius, but his ambitious plans unravel as his allies turn against him. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the corrupting...

The three plays collected in this volume depict the faults, errors and foibles of ordinary people with exuberant humour, savage satire and acute observations. Volpone portrays a rich Venetian who pretends to be dying so that his despised acquaintances will flock to his bedside with extravagant gifts in hope of an inheritance. The Alchemist also deals with greed and gullibility, as a rascally trio of confidence tricksters, claiming to have the legendary Philosopher's Stone, fool a series of...

This book-collection file includes: The Alchemist, Cynthia's Revels, Epicoene, Every Man in His Humour, Every Man Out of His Humour, The Poetaster, Sejanus, and Volpone. It also includes Felix Schelling's introduction to the Complete Plays of Ben Jonson. According to Schelling, Jonson is "the greatest of English dramatists except Shakespeare, the first literary dictator and poet-laureate, a writer of verse, prose, satire, and criticism who most potently of all the men of his time affected ...

In this uproarious satire from Jacobean playwright Ben Jonson, the clever Venetian gentleman Volpone hatches an outrageous scheme to dupe a greedy trio of hangers-on who are after his fortune. A ragtag cast of characters, including a dwarf, a eunuch, and a hermaphrodite, get caught up in the plot along the way.

Ben Jonson was a master of satire who ranks with Jonathan Swift and Voltaire. In Volpone, he tackles greed. The wealthy Venetian gentleman Volpone is as cunning as a fox, and he pretends to be very ill and dying in order to entice legacy-hunters to give him valuable gifts in hopes of being named his heir. This works well for three years, but then …This is an easy-to-read retelling of Ben Jonson's satiric masterpiece: "Volpone, or the Fox."

Ben Jonson's "Epicoene; Or, The Silent Woman" is a masterful comedic work that deftly navigates themes of gender, identity, and social masquerade. Set against the backdrop of early 17th-century London, the play employs sharp wit and rich linguistic creativity to explore the tensions between appearance and reality within societal norms. Jonson'Äôs use of satire illustrates the complexities of human relationships and the roles men and women play, encapsulated in the character of Epicoene, a ...

Dive into the world of dark comedy with The Alchemist by Ben Jonson. This classic play, set during the plague in London, masterfully portrays the tricks of three con-artists, exploiting the greed and gullibility of their victims. With its satirical lens, Jonson's play offers timeless insights into human nature and society's obsession with wealth and power. Explore the depths of human folly with The Alchemist by Ben Jonson. Order your copy today and immerse yourself in this classic portraya...

Volpone; Or, The Fox Ben Jonson - Volpone ([volpone], Italian for "sly fox") is a comedy play by English playwright Ben Jonson first produced in 16051606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains Jonson's most-performed play, and it is ranked among the finest Jacobean era comedies.

"The Alchemist" by Ben Jonson is a comedic play that satirizes the greed and gullibility of its characters. Set in London, it follows three con artists who exploit the desire for wealth and transformation. As they pose as alchemists, chaos ensues when their schemes collide. The play humorously examines human flaws and the pursuit of unrealistic ambitions, showcasing Jonson's wit and social commentary.

An outbreak of plague in London forces a gentleman, Lovewit, to flee temporarily to the country, leaving his house under the sole charge of his butler, Jeremy. Jeremy uses the opportunity given to him to use the house as the headquarters for fraudulent acts. He transforms himself into 'Captain Face', and enlists the aid of Subtle, a fellow conman and Dol Common, a prostitute. In The Alchemist, Jonson unashamedly satirizes the follies, vanities and vices of mankind, most notably greed-induc...