ABSTRACT
Ben Jonson reached the summit of his achievement in the three great comedies of his early prime: Volpone or the Fox, The Silent Woman, and The Alchemist. In matter, feeling, style and method, they express most faithfully his mind and temper. Jonson was a man of many moods. Jonson achieved excellence, no matter what his theme or purpose, by premeditation and design. His success came always by a consciously directed effort. Jonson is inevitably at his best when he is able to concentrate upon permanent and observed aspects of human character. Volpone is not by accident his greatest play. The subject of Volpone is not, as is sometimes assumed, the narrow theme of avarice as presented in the masterpieces of Plautus and Moliere. Jonson has a more spacious topic—the attraction and power of effective wealth. Wealth is his instrument—a token of mastery.
