Volpone as a comedy of humors

The comedy of humours refers to a genre of dramatic comedy that focuses on a character or range of characters, each of whom two or more overriding traits or 'humours' that dominates their personality, desires and conduct. The comedy is focused on the way in which characters themselves represent one particular vice, virtue or failing which defines them and their actions in the play.

In this darkly comic play of Ben Jonson - “Volpone”, it can be seen that how naming of characters plays a significant part in this. The names of the three "suitors" are given to indicate the way that they are beasts who hope to prey off the corpse of Volpone. There is the crow, the raven and the vulture, each of whom hope to inherit the sick Volpone's wealth when he dies. Their greed is emphasized through their name. Volpone is likewise defined by his greed, but also by his intelligence in seeking to outwit those who try to trick him. His name of the fox therefore is excellent in defining his character. This is not of course restricted to merely the evil or bad characters in the play. Bonario literally means "good man," and it can be seen from his rather bombastic speech and actions that this characteristic is what defines him.

The word “humour” comes from a Latin word, “humor”, which means liquid. In Medieval times, there was a medical theory that held that the human body was a balance of four humors or liquids: blood, phelgm, yellow bile (choler) and black bile (melancholy). If they were out of balance, however, then the person was messed up. 

“Volpone” fits this criterion. All of the characters are imbalanced as well, so their “humors” are out of synchronising and they thus act in comical ways. There are some characters in this play that have physical abnormalities (Nano, Castrone & Androgyno) and yet they are not as out of balance as the ones who are mentally imbalanced (Volpone, Mosca, Voltore, Corvino, Corbaccio, etc).☺In conclusion, as comedy of humors is focused on characters, it can be finalized that Ben Johnson portrayed a great example of that in “Volpone”.