Johnson’s 1616 Play the Devil is an Ass Second Act

Ben Johnson’s 1616 Play the Devil is an Ass Second Act, is a satirical comedy that brilliantly captures the social and ethical fabric of Jacobean England. The play is understood for its sharp wit, complex plotting, and humorous portrayal of human folly. In the second one act, Jonson continues to broaden the topics of greed, deception, and the absurdity of human nature, introducing key plot factors that propel the tale forward.

Setting the Scene: The Devil’s Plan Unfolds

At the begin of the second act, we see the continuation of the plot set in motion by using the satan Pug, who has been despatched to Earth to corrupt humanity. However, Pug is an incompetent satan, lacking the malice and foxy predicted of his type. This act deepens the comedic irony as Pug struggles to navigate the world of London, where human vice regularly outshines his personal diabolical intentions.

Key Characters and Their Motivations

The second act introduces and develops numerous key characters who embody numerous societal vices:

• Fitzdottrel: A gullible, rich man obsessed on acquiring wealth and standing. He becomes a primary discern in Pug’s schemes, although it’s far uncertain who is manipulating whom.
• Wittipol: A clever and inventive gentleman who will become embroiled inside the play’s numerous intrigues. He represents the voice of motive, regularly commenting at the absurdity of the alternative characters’ moves.
• Merecraft: A conniving projector (someone who schemes to get money thru doubtful organizations), who symbolizes the greed and deceit rampant in the society Jonson is critiquing.

Plot Development inside the Second Act

In this act, the plot thickens as Pug, disguised as a servant named “Damon,” tries to influence Fitzdottrel. However, Pug’s incompetence turns into extra glaring as he fumbles through his tries at corruption. Meanwhile, the scheming Merecraft and his companion, Everill, plot to swindle Fitzdottrel out of his fortune via a sequence of fraudulent schemes.

Wittipol, on the other hand, begins to show his own plans, which contain wooing Fitzdottrel’s wife, Frances. His motivations are more honorable than the ones of Merecraft and Pug, though he, too, is stuck up within the net of deception that characterizes the play.

Themes and Satire inside the Second Act

Jonson makes use of the second one act to deepen his satire on Jacobean society. The subject matters of greed, gullibility, and ethical corruption are at the vanguard. Pug’s screw ups as a satan highlight the absurdity of human vice, suggesting that humans are regularly greater devilish than the devil himself. Fitzdottrel’s willingness to be deceived for the sake of wealth and status serves as a critique of the materialism and superficiality of the time.

Moreover, Jonson evaluations the subculture of projection and scheming, as embodied with the aid of Merecraft, displaying how without difficulty human beings are swayed by way of guarantees of smooth wealth and social development. The interactions between these characters serve as a microcosm of the bigger societal issues Jonson sought to reveal.

Conclusion: Johnson’s 1616 Play the Devil is an Ass Second Act

The Intrigue Builds

The 2nd act of The Devil is an Ass masterfully sets the level for the unfolding drama, weaving together the numerous plot threads and person arcs with Jonson’s characteristic wit and humor. As the characters’ schemes and deceptions grow to be more entangled, the audience is left watching for the inevitable unraveling in their plans. Jonson’s play remains a terrific exploration of human folly, and the second act is a key part of this enduring comedic satire.