Volpone

The catalyst for all the action of the play is that Volpone does not have a natural heir for his enormous wealth. Volpone’s fortune gives him immense power and social standing in Venice, so his successor stands to inherit both riches and repute. The play, however, argues that too large an appetite for wealth and power can fully consume a person’s mind, leaving them susceptible to other vices. Volpone’s three main suitors willingly follow along with Mosca and Volpone’s wicked ideas because they think it will get them closer to securing the inheritance. At several points, Volpone expresses amazement at the gullibility of his marks, but Mosca reminds him that “too much light blinds ’em” (5.2.23)—meaning that the shine of all that promised gold prevents them from seeing even obvious deceptions. Mosca convinces Voltore to abuse his vocation as a lawyer and testify falsely to the court. Despite confessing to guilt after this performance, when Voltore learns that Volpone is alive and that he still has a chance at the fortune, he immediately returns to his deceptive ways. Corbaccio is already a wealthy gentleman, but he willingly disinherits his own natural heir in his quest for doubled riches.