Blessy S Ben Jonson’s satirical masterpiece, Volpone, offers a fascinating lens through which to examine the complex gender dynamics prevalent in Jacobean society. While the play primarily focuses on themes of greed, deception, and social satire, it also provides a nuanced portrayal of gender roles in Volpone. This article analyzes the role of female characters and the broader portrayal of women in Volpone to understand how Jonson critiques and reinforces the prevailing gender norms of his time.
Role of Female Characters in Volpone
Through the characters of Celia and Lady Would-Be, Jonson explores the spectrum of female experiences within a patriarchal framework. It also highlights both the vulnerabilities and the subtle forms of resistance available to women in this era.
Confined Existence of Celia: Embodiment of Female Virtue and Victimization
Celia is the virtuous wife of the jealous and possessive Corvino. She represents the epitome of the idealized woman in Jacobean society. She is chaste, obedient, and submissive, embodying the prescribed gender roles in Volpone that dictated female behavior.
Celia’s agency is severely limited as she was confined to her home and subjected to her husband’s tyrannical control.
I will have thee locked up;
For, thou hast yet, I hope, some sense of shame?
– Act 2, Scene 2
The above lines demonstrate Corvino’s control over Celia and how he treats her as property. It also highlights the patriarchal constraints Celia faces.
Her vulnerability is further exposed when Corvino, driven by greed and the allure of Volpone’s supposed wealth, attempts to prostitute her to the cunning fox. This act of marital betrayal and commodification underscores the precarious position of women in a patriarchal society. This indicates that women were often treated as property rather than individuals with autonomy.
While seemingly passive, Celia’s character also reveals a subtle form of resistance. Despite her constrained circumstances, she maintains her virtue and integrity, refusing to succumb to Volpone’s advances. Her moral strength and unwavering commitment to her principles serve as a counterpoint to the corruption and moral decay that pervades the male-dominated world of the play.
If I have ever,
(My lords,) given cause, in thought, word, or deed,
To be suspected, much less charged, of this foul crime,—
Heaven is my witness, you believe my oath.
– Act 4, Scene 6
The above lines shows Celia’s defense relies on appeals to her virtue and obedience even in the face of false accusations. It demonstrates the limited avenues available to her for self-representation. This highlights the role of female characters in Volpone as often being defined by their chastity.
Whither,
Corvino?
– Act 3, Scene 7
This short desperate question speaks volumes as Corvino pushes her towards Volpone. It highlights her powerlessness and her reliance on her husband, even as he betrays her. Her later are often phrased in terms of her duty to Corvino, showcasing the limited vocabulary of agency available to her. We can find lines where she emphasizes her marriage vows and her fear of dishonoring her husband (even though he’s the dishonorable one).
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Lady Would-Be: A Caricature of Female Ambition and Social Climbing
In contrast to Celia’s confined existence, Lady Would-Be enjoys a greater degree of freedom and social mobility. She was married to the gullible Sir Politic Would-Be. She is a caricature of the ambitious and garrulous woman, eager to participate in the social and intellectual life of Venice.
However, her character is not presented in a flattering light. Jonson portrays her as foolish, pretentious, and overly talkative, reinforcing negative stereotypes about female loquacity and intellectual aspirations.
I do not like the air o’ this place.
I’m so troubled with the cough, I shall not be able
To sleep here.
– Act 3, Scene 2
This exemplifies her pretentiousness and her desire to appear refined and superior. Her language is filled with affectation, revealing her shallowness.
Lady Would-Be’s desire for social recognition and her attempts to assert herself in a male-dominated society are ultimately ridiculed. Her character serves as a cautionary tale, suggesting that women who transgress traditional gender roles in Volpone. Also, they seek power or influence outside the domestic sphere are destined for mockery and social ostracization.
While she is not confined in the same way as Celia, Lady Would-Be’s freedom is circumscribed by societal expectations and the limitations placed upon female ambition.
O, what do you mean, sir?
To send so near a lady, and so fair,
Upon such a message?
– Act 3, Scene 4
This is her reaction to Mosca’s suggestion that Celia visit Volpone. Her concern is clearly performative, highlighting her hypocrisy and her eagerness to insert herself into Volpone’s circle.
Absence of Female Agency in a Male-Dominated World
Despite their contrasting experiences, both Celia and Lady Would-Be highlight the limited agency afforded to women in Volpone. They are primarily defined by their relationships with men – as wives, objects of desire, or figures of ridicule. Their voices are often marginalized or dismissed, and their actions are largely determined by the desires and machinations of the male characters.
The play underscores the patriarchal structures that underpin Jacobean society. Here, women were relegated to the domestic sphere and denied access to positions of power and influence.
The portrayal of women in Volpone is not entirely devoid of complexity. While Jonson’s female characters may not possess the same level of agency as their male counterparts, they are not simply passive victims or one-dimensional stereotypes.
For instance, Celia’s virtue and resilience challenge the notion of female weakness and offer a subtle critique of the patriarchal system that seeks to control her. Similarly, Lady Would-Be’s ambition, however misguided, reveals a desire for self-expression and social participation that transcends the limitations imposed upon her.
Gender Dynamics and the Play’s Satirical Targets in Volpone
The gender dynamics in Volpone are inextricably linked to the play’s broader satirical aims. Jonson uses the limited agency and societal constraints placed upon women to expose the hypocrisy and moral corruption of the male characters.
Furthermore, the play’s critique of social climbing and pretension extends to Lady Would-Be, whose desire for social status and intellectual recognition is ultimately satirized. Through her character, Jonson seems to be commenting on the limited opportunities available to women in his society and the societal pressures that often led them to seek validation through superficial means.
The beauty of this dame
Is like the delicate fruit o’ the vine,
Newly empurpled, and formed to be the delight
Of all the senses.
– Act 3, Scene 5
Even when seemingly complimentary, the above lines exemplify how Volpone’s language reduces Celia to a sexualized object. This reinforces the portrayal of women as commodities in Volpone.
The entire play revolves around the schemes of Volpone and Mosca, demonstrating how men maintain their dominance and control through their alliances and shared interests (often based on greed and deception). Filled with coded language and shared secrets, their interactions highlight this dynamic.
In the court scenes, Celia’s testimony is questioned and dismissed. These reveal the inherent biases within the legal system against women. Despite their lack of evidence, the judges’ willingness to believe Corvino’s accusations, reinforces the gender dynamics in Volpone and the powerlessness of women within the patriarchal system.
Conclusion
Volpone offers a nuanced exploration of gender dynamics within the context of Jacobean society. While the play reflects the patriarchal norms of the time, it also provides glimpses into the complexities of female experience and the subtle ways in which women navigated their constrained circumstances.
The role of female characters in Volpone extends beyond mere plot devices. They serve as a lens through which to examine the power dynamics and social inequalities that characterized Jacobean society. While the play may not explicitly challenge the prevailing patriarchal order, it does offer a critical commentary on the limitations placed upon women and the ways in which they were often exploited or marginalized.
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