Avarice in Ben Jonsons Volpone Essay -- English Literature

What a rare punishment/Is avarice to itself Volpone, guess 1, sc.iv.Do the events in the play confirm this?Volpone was written at a time when Jacobean London was infected withgreed, cunning and credulity. These traits Ben Jonson used to expose thefolly of avarice and its rewards or punishment to those whose onlylove is property and appropriating more of it. Volpone is all aboutmorals, greed and the depths people will extend to get what they want,despite its consequences on themselves and others.The Jacobean audiences were familiar with its setting in Venice andthey thought Italy was the land of sensational evil-doing. AmongItalian cities Venice ... stood in the front regularise for this sinisterrepute. (Barish, 1972 65)So the choice of setting was deliberate, he wanted t...