VOLPONE BY Ben Jonson - Contextual Questions 1
A. Re-read Act 1, Scene 1, lines 70-90 (Volpone); lines 1-33 (Mosca) and Act 4, Scene 1, lines 100-126 (Sir Politique Would-Bee). What is striking about Johnson’s use of language to portray character in these passages?
B. Look again at the Prologue. How far do you agree with the assertion that
”All gall and copperas from his ink he draineth
Only a little salt remaineth”
seriously understates the harshness of Jonson’s attack on the wide range of human vices? You will also need to refer to other evidence from the play.