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Unit 17: Volpone: Characterization and Plot Construction and Sub-plots
demonstrated by his adverse reaction to Lady Politic Would-be’s suggestive comments. Peregrine Notes
also embodies the theme of Vengeance and symbolizes the Knowledge aspect of the Knowledge/
Ignorance theme.
17.1.13 Avocatori
They are four magistrates or the judges from the Scrutineo. For representatives of order and justice,
the Avocatori are dangerously gullible. They switch sides in the court case based not on concrete
evidence but on their impressions of the defendants and the prosecutors. What’s worse, the Avocatori
are just as shallow and self-absorbed as the other characters in the play. Even when lives are at
stake, the Avocatori are concerned only with marrying their daughters off to Mosca.
17.1.14 Lady Would Be
Lady Would-be, the Knight’s wife, is the garrulous, vain, and jealous companion of Sir Politic.
Though she is herself independent, Lady Would-be be grudges Sir Politic his freedom, becoming
irrationally exasperated when Mosca tells her that Sir Politic is with another woman. We know also
that Lady Would-be’s greed rivals that of Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore since Mosca tells us that
she offered him her body in order to be Volpone’s heir.
The Lady Politic Would-be is portrayed as a would-be courtesan. She was the impetus for the Would-
bes move to Venice, because of her desire to learn the ways of the sophisticated Venetians. She is
very well read and very inclined to let anyone know this, or anything else about her. She is extremely
vain.
17.1.15 Notario
The Notario are the Register or officer of the Scrutineo. The Notario acts something like a bailiff
would in a modern court of law. He summons witnesses, swears them in, and, in general, runs
errands for the Avocatori.
17.1.16 Commendatori
The Commendatori are the court officers who detain Corbaccio, Corvino, Voltore, Mosca, and
Volpone once their punishments have been handed down. Also, Volpone disguises himself as a
commendatore in order to taunt Corbaccio, Corvino, and Voltore in the streets.
17.1.17 Marcatori
They are three merchants and are Peregrine’s accomplices in the practical joke he plays on Sir Politic.
They pretend to be representatives of the Venetian state who have come to apprehend Sir Politic.
Self Assessment
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Volpone, the play’s title character is its protagonist. His name means
(a) the Fox in Italian
(b) crow in Italian
(c) parasite in Italian
(d) greedy in Italian.
LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 217
