The Linking Between the Emerging Market Economy and Human Character in Volpone of Ben Jonson

Year 2021, Volume: 25 Issue: Özel Sayı, 213 - 230, 29.11.2021

Emin Yaş

https://doi.org/10.53487/ataunisosbil.737815

Abstract

Social developments/events of three different periods (Elizabethan Period (1558-1603), Jacobean Period (1603-1625) and Caroline Period (1625-1649) might have had great impact on Ben Jonson’s writing the play Volpone. In this qualitative study (conducted with literature research on the topic), Volpone through which he best reflected his corrupted society at that time will be examined. The play will be analysed to illuminate the native features related to the market economy. The economic sight based on commodity has such a great power in changing the characters of the people, losing their morals because of their greed towards the power and wealth during the mentioned period. Another point to be discussed is to reckon whether Ben Jonson as a Dramatist had contrary opinions against the developing capitalist world. In the study, it has been found that the play of Volpone (the fox) depicts one of the best evidence how the characters can be changed through materialism. As a main character, he is a wealthy Venetian nobleman and exceptionally cunning, who devises a plan (pretending to die) with the assistance of his henchman (Mosca/ fly) to exploit his relatives waiting to be an heir of him. The play shows how his relatives flatter him and give him the most expensive gifts. He deceives each of them at the end. The play draws attention to the materialistic power of the 16th century.

Keywords

Ben Jonson, Volpone, Drama, Renaissance, Monopoly Economy

The Linking Between the Emerging Market Economy and Human Character in Volpone of Ben Jonson

Abstract

Üç farklı dönemin (Elizabeth Dönemi (1558-1603), Jacobean Dönemi (1603-1625) ve Caroline Dönemi (1625-1649) toplumsal gelişmeleri/olayları Ben Jonson’ın Volpone oyununu yazmasında büyük bir etki yapmış olabilir. Bu nitel çalışmada (konuyla ilgili literatür araştırmasıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir) o zamanlar bozuk toplumunu en iyi yansıttığı Volpone incelenecektir. Oyun, piyasa ekonomisiyle ilgili yerel özellikleri aydınlatmak için analiz edilecektir. Emtiaya dayalı ekonomik görüş, sözü edilen dönemde güç ve servete olan açgözlülüklerinden dolayı insanların karakterlerini değiştirme, ahlaklarını kaybetme konusunda büyük bir güce sahiptir. Tartışılması gereken bir diğer nokta, bir Drama oyun yazarı olarak Ben Jonson'ın gelişmekte olan kapitalist dünyaya aykırı görüşlere sahip olup olmadığını değerlendirmek. Çalışmada Volpone (tilki) oyununun karakterlerin materyalizm yoluyla nasıl değiştirilebileceğinin en iyi kanıtlarından birini gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Ana karakter olarak, zengin bir Venedik asilzadesidir ve son derece kurnazdır, uşağının (Mosca/fly) yardımıyla kendisinin varisi olmayı bekleyen akrabalarını sömürmek için bir plan (ölmüş gibi yaparak) yapar. Oyun, akrabalarının ona nasıl dalkavutluk edildiğini ve ona en pahalı hediyeleri verdiğini gözler önüne sermektdir. Her birini sonunda aldatır. Oyun 16. yüzyılın materyalistik gücüne dikkat çekmektedir.

Keywords

Ben Jonson, Volpone, Drama, Rönesans, Monopol Ekonomi

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