6 volpone themes, motifs, symbols

VolponeThemes, Motifs, Symbols

Themes

Greed Parasitism Vengeance Deception

Themes - Greed

Visible all throughout the play Greedy characters? Causes downfall

Themes - Parasitism

Living off of others Parasites in the play? Superior characters wit

Themes - Vengeance

Dominant theme in the subplot Peregrine drives Sir Politic Would-be

out of Venice only to say “Now, we are even”.

Message : Vengeance is childish and ridiculous

Themes - Deception

Dominant throughout the play Appearance vs Reality Marks characters for punishment Poetic justice – deceivers are

punished Who are not punished in the play?

Motifs

Disguise Gulling

Symbols

Animalization Venice

Symbols - Animalization

Characters with animal names Names describe characters Names predictors of actions Names reveal the motivations of

characters Why? To make the audience focus on the

underlying meaning (why) instead of “how” and “what”.

Symbols - Venice

Symbol of greed and corruption Italians – stereotypical deceivers for

English people Seen as immoral people Makes the story more believable for

English people Serves as a barrier between

immorality and English people