THE ALCHEMIST BY BEN JONSON - Assignment 5
Either, (1) “Doll. Do not we
Sustain our parts?” (I, i, 143-4)
Comment on the parts “sustained” by Subtle, Face, and Doll in the course of the play, and on the theatricality of Jonson’s play.
Or, (2) It has been claimed that “Jonson portrays his characters more by what they say than by what they do.” Examine the following passage in detail, and say to what extent you agree with the quoted opinion on Jonson’s characterization.
MAMMON. I will have all my beds, blown up; not stuff’d:
Down is too hard. And then, mine oval room,
Fill’d with such pictures, as Tiberius took
From Elephantis, and dull Aretine
But coldly imitated. Then, my glasses,
Cut in more subtle angles, to disperse
And multiply the figures, as I walk
Naked between my succubae.
My mists I’ll have of perfume, vapour’d ’bout the room,
To lose ourselves in; and my baths, like pits
To fall into: from whence, we will come forth,
And roll us dry in gossamer and roses.
(Is it arriv’d at ruby?) Where I spy
A wealthy citizen, or rich lawyer,
Have a sublim’d pure wife, unto that fellow
I’ll send a thousand pound, to be my cuckold.
Face. And I shall carry it?
Mammon. No. I’ll ha’ no bawds,
But fathers and mothers. They will do it best.
Best of all others. And, my flatterers
Shall be the pure, and gravest of divines
That I can get for money. My mere fools,
Eloquent burgesses, and then my poets,
The same that writ so subtly of the fart,
Whom I will entertain, still, for that subject.
The few, that would give out themselves to be
Court and town stallions, and, each where, belie
Ladies, who are known most innocent, for them;
Those will I beg, to make me eunuchs of:
And they shall fan me with ten ostrich tails
Apiece, made in a plume, to gather wind.
We will be brave, Puff, now we ha’ the med’cine.
My meat shall all come in, in Indian shells,
Dishes of agate, set in gold, and studded,
With emeralds, sapphires, hyacinths and rubies.
The tongues of carps, dormice, and camels’ heels,
Boil’d i’ the spirit of Sol, and dissolv’d pearl,
(Apicius’ diet, ‘gainst the epilepsy)
And I will eat these broths with spoons of amber,
Headed with diamond, and carbuncle.
My foot-boy shall eat pheasants, calver’d salmons,
Knots, godwits, lampreys: I myself will have
The beards of barbels, serv’d instead of salads;
Oil’d mushrooms; and the swelling unctuous paps
Of a fat pregnant sow, newly cut off,
Dress’d with an exquisite, and poignant sauce;
For which, I’ll say unto my cook,
‘There’s gold, Go forth, and be a knight’.