The Roaring Girl by Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker

PRIMARY SOURCE: The Roaring Girl (1611)
Context

• Publication: Written by Decker and Middleton for Prince Henry's Men; performed in 1611. Printed by Nicholas Okes for Thomas Archer. The title-page features an illustration of Moll. EEBO link.
• Scholarship: Scholars are interested in the gender-epistemology invoked by a character like Moll. Is she a proto-feminist, or an exceptional character that rather reaffirms the norm (as per Greenblatt)? Her Amazonian nature resembles established stereotypes, as well as Spenser's Brittomart.
• Why I'm reading it: The counter-canon, social satire.

Content

• Form: Iambic pentameter couplets. Five acts.
• Genre: Comedy.
• Conceit: 
• The titular character, Moll Cutpurse, is modeled on Mary Frith. She famously wore men's clothing, roared, associated with criminals, and came before the court many times for theft.
• In the main plot, Sir Alexander Wengrave prevents his son, Sebastian, from marrying Mary Fitzallard, because of her small dowry. Sebastian pretends to love Moll Cutpurse, to make Mary look acceptable in comparison. Moll gently rebuffs Sebastian and confirms her chastity. Sir Alexander falls for Sebsatian's trick, but hates Moll as a thief and so hires a spy, "honest Ralph" Trapdoor, to defame Moll. Moll takes on Trapdoor as a servant, but then learns of Sebastian's plot and agrees to help. Moll diverts Trapdoor's plots with cunning, but defends him from a gang nevertheless. In the end, Trapdoor confesses his plot and apologizes. Moll and Sebastian create one final ruse for Sir Alexander and Sir Fitzallard, showing them the value of the Mary-Sebastian match. Sir Alexander sees the true virtue in Moll, and Sebastian may marry Mary.
• In one subplot, Laxton seduces Mrs. Gallipot for thirty pounds from Mr. Gallipot. Mrs. Gallipot becomes disillusioned with Laxton and confesses to her husband, denouncing Laxton.
• In another subplot, Goshawk tries to Mrs. Openwork, but Mr. and Mrs. Openwork outmaneuver Goshawk and expose him.
• Other notes:
• In the closing soliloquy, Moll anatomizes her own face and then relates it to the plot.
• Mneumonic: Wen(grave) Seb(astian) Mar(y) Moll Tra(pdoor) La(xton) Gal(lipot) Go(shawk) Op(enwork).
• When sybarite marriages mollify a transvestite lad, gallantry guards obedience.

Volpone by Ben Jonson

PRIMARY SOURCE: Volpone (1605/6)
Context

• Publication: Opened at the Globe in 1606 with a cast that had recently performed Othello. The original run was successful until the closing of the playhouses. Published both in the 1607 Quarto Volpone and the 1616 Folio Works. Corrections to the F are relatively minor, with the exception of Celia's reaction to the rape at the end--she is rendered desperate in Q, rational in F. Quarto printed by George Eld for Thomas Thorppe. EEBO link.
• Scholarship: Scholars read Volpone to understand Jonson's shifting comedic effects--from morality plays to dark social satire.
• Why I'm reading it: The Canon, social satire.

Content

• Form: A play in five acts. No constant verse.
• Genre: Comedy, social satire.
• Conceit: Volpone has amassed a fortune through questionable means. He works with Mosca to feign fatal illness and attract sycophants. Mosca assures Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino that they are all the favorites to be Volpone's heir--and he advises Corbaccio to disinherit his son. Volpone commits to sleep with Corvino's wife, Celia. While selling snake oil, Volpone haggles with Sir Politic and Peregrine and sees Celia. Mosca persuades Corvino to send Celia to Volpone. After a tortuous encounter with Lady Would-Be, Corvino delivers Celia to Volpone, saying that she should prove her virginity. Mosca diverts Bonario. Volpone nearly rapes Celia, but Bonario saves her. Corbaccio enters but sees Volpone as an invalid. Mosca reassures Corbaccio, then convinces Voltore to help him defraud Corbaccio, and that Bonario attacked Volpone. Voltore prosecutes Bonario and Celia, and the witnesses are Corbaccio, Corvino, and Lady Would-Be: the Lady is motivated by Mosca's promise of Volpone's inheritence. Volpone fakes his death, and sends Mosca out as his heir. The sycophants begin to rescind their stories without any further incentive, and Mosca is ready to confirm Volpone's faked death unless Volpone concede actual riches. Volpone reveals himself, and justice is served.
• Other notes: Mneumonic: Vol(pone) Mos(ca) Cor(baccio) Bo(naria) Cor(vino) Ce(lia) Wou(ld-Be)
  Volition must corrupt both co-receivers, seen woolgathering.