Staging of Volpone Jonson's Volpone, or The Fox, is almost exactly contemporary with Shakespeare's Othello and contains aspects that some might see as its comic counterpart. Venetian corruption and the insidious influence of a simpering and unscrupulous servant are themes common to both works. But what does this play have to communicate to us? Themes of corruption and materialism, leading to a misanthropic view of the world, might have been significant in 17th century England, but it is obviously extremely difficult to interpret them as relevant to today's world. Volpone (the fox) is a rich man who fakes a serious illness to accumulate further treasures that will make him richer. His servant, Mosca (the fly), informs some of Volpone's wealthy associates that he is near the end and is considering his will; everyone can increase their chances of becoming the sole beneficiary after his death by currently giving him abundant gifts. However, Volpone is by no means a simple comedy, and there are elements of several genres contemporary with Jonson and others....