Tease (Deception) and Fantasy (Illusion) in Ben Jonson’s Volpone

This paper attempts to examine and delineate the themes of the ‘tease’ and ‘fantasy’ in Ben Jonson’s magnum opus, Volpone. The theme of the ‘tease’ is employed in the work as illusory deception. At the same time, ‘fantasy’ observes its presence through the imagination and the disillusionment; the fool’s paradise as imagined by the characters present. The paper analyses the presence and application of these intertwined themes through a focused examination of the play's form, narrative, characterisation, and the playwright’s use of language to represent the society of early 17th-century England.