The Alchemist - Ben Jonson

I read The Alchemist by Ben Jonson for Fanda's LMRC, Renaissance Period.

Renaissance

Renaissance literally means rebirth. The world was emerging from the Middle or Dark Ages. The movement actually began in Italy and spread to England. English Renaissance occurred from 1500-1660. One key characteristic of the Renaissance was the idea of the 'Divine Right of Kings' to rule. Another was the development of humanistic ideas, such as the dignity of man. It was a time of scientific inquiry and exploration. The overwhelming spirit of the time was optimism, an unquenchable belief that life was improving for the first time. England graduated from an overlooked barbarian nation to a seat of commercial power and influence. The dominant forms of English Literature during this period were the poem and the drama.

The Renaissance or Early Modern Period is grouped into four periods:

Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)

 It was the golden age of English drama. Noted authors during this period are Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Edmund Spencer, Sir Walter Raleigh, and William Shakespeare.

The Jacobean Age (1603-1625)

 It covers the reign of James I. Noted authors during this period are John Donne, William Shakespeare, Michael Drayton, John Webster, Elizabeth Cary, Ben Jonson and Lady Mary Wroth. The King James Translation of the Bible also appeared during this period.

The Caroline Age (1625-1649)

This covers the reign of Charles I. Noted authors are John Milton, Robert Burton, and George Herbert.

The Commonwealth Period (1649-1660)

This is the period between the end of the English Civil War and the restoration of the Stuart Monarchy. This is the time when Oliver Cromwell, a puritan led parliament ruled the nation. At this time, public theaters were closed to prevent public assembly and to combat moral and religious transgressions. Noted authors are John Milton, John Bunyan, Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Fuller, Abraham Cowley and Andrew Marvell.

The Alchemist by Ben Jonson

 

 

It is a satirical comedy play. The play is set in London, 1610. It is divided into five acts and all the acts occur at the house of Lovewit. Lovewit flees to the country because of an outbreak of Plague in London and leaves his house under the care of his butler, Jeremy. Jeremy utilises this opportunity to mint some money. He disguises as Face and join hands with a conman named Subtle, who pretends as an alchemist and Dolcommon, a prostitute. They use the house for their fraudulent activities.

The play begins with an argument between Subtle and Face over their supremacy in their fraud business. Dol intervenes and the men reconcile. By this time, their first gull, Dapper, who is a lawyer’s clerk, arrives. Face takes the role of captain Face, Subtle play as the Doctor and Face receives Dapper. Throughout the play the three rogues take different roles as they meet their gulls. Their gulls are from all social strata. Before they finish dealing with a gull, the next gull arrives. At onetime all their gulls arrive at the same time and when they sigh a relief after managing somehow, Doll announces Lovewit’s arrival.

 Face immediately becomes butler Jeremy and meets Lovewit at the door. Lovewit is mobbed by his neighbors and they tell him that his house had many visitors in his absence. Lovewit suspects something amiss when Sir Epicure Mammon (one of their gull) come back to expose Subtle and Face.  Finally Jeremy confesses and asks his master for forgiveness and promises to help him marry a rich widow.  Lovewit forgives Jeremy. Subtle and Dol Common are forced to escape without anything. Lovewit marries the widow.

It’s an interesting play. Ben Jonson satirises the Jacobean London. Alchemists and astrologers were common then and doing a lucrative business. How the selfishness and greediness of the people for wealth, power make them a prey to these conmen is beautifully portrayed in The Alchemist. Though Jonson was portraying Jacobean London, it still holds true today. The human weaknesses are exploited even today by many conmen.