The Devil Is an Ass by Ben Jonson remains one of the more intriguing entries in the Jacobean comedic canon, blending supernatural fantasy with sharp social satire. Written in 1616 and first performed by the King's Men, the play offers a fascinating glimpse into early seventeenth-century London while exploring timeless questions about human nature, greed, and moral corruption. For students of Renaissance drama and casual readers alike, understanding this work requires examining its plot, characters, historical context, and enduring themes.
Background and Historical Context
Ben Jonson occupied a unique position in Elizabethan and Jacobean literary culture. In real terms, unlike many of his contemporaries who relied on patronage alone, Jonson cultivated a reputation as a learned, often combative, literary figure who demanded recognition as an intellectual artist. By 1616, he had already produced landmark works such as Every Man in His Humour and Volpone, establishing himself as Shakespeare's most formidable rival in terms of classical learning and satirical precision Small thing, real impact. Practical, not theoretical..
The year 1616 proved key for Jonson. Now, he published the first folio of his works, a significant move that positioned him as a serious literary authority rather than merely a playwright for hire. The Devil Is an Ass appeared in this collection, though it had premiered the previous year at the Globe Theatre. The play reflects Jonson's fascination with classical models, particularly Plautus and Aristophanes, while addressing distinctly English concerns about social climbing, religious hypocrisy, and the emerging culture of consumerism And it works..
Plot Summary
The narrative centers on Meercraft, a devil who descends to Earth with a specific mission from his superior, the devil prince. But his assignment seems straightforward: corrupt a young man named Fitzdottrel into selling his soul. Even so, the plan encounters immediate complications because Fitzdottrel proves far more interested in pigs, legal tricks, and marrying a young widow than in damnation.
Fitzdottrel has recently inherited a substantial fortune from his deceased wife, and he obsesses over protecting his wealth from schemers. His foolishness makes him an unlikely candidate for damnation, so Meercraft must resort to increasingly desperate measures. He assembles a team of con artists, including Manly, a pragmatic gentleman who sees through the deception, and ** Wittipol**, a witty young man who becomes entangled in the plot's complications Most people skip this — try not to..
The middle acts involve elaborate schemes involving fake exorcisms, forged documents, and impersonations. Meercraft attempts to convince Fitzdottrel that he is being haunted by devils so that the devil can then "save" him and claim his soul. Meanwhile, Wittipol and Manly work to expose the fraud and protect Fitzdottrel from his own gullibility.
The resolution brings unexpected twists. Consider this: meercraft ultimately fails in his mission, not because of divine intervention, but because human folly proves more resilient than diabolical cunning. Fitzdottrel's obsession with his pigs and his legalistic obsession with his property save him from damnation, suggesting that sometimes stupidity itself serves as a form of protection Most people skip this — try not to..
Major Characters
Understanding The Devil Is an Ass requires attention to its vividly drawn characters, each representing different facets of Jacobean society.
Meercraft serves as the play's central devil figure, but Jonson complicates the traditional portrayal. Rather than a terrifying embodiment of evil, Meercraft appears as a bureaucratic operator, frustrated by the inefficiency of his human agents and the stubbornness of his target. He represents institutionalized corruption, the kind of evil that operates through paperwork and persuasion rather than overt violence Less friction, more output..
Fitzdottrel embodies the anxieties surrounding newly acquired wealth and social mobility. His obsession with legal technicalities and his attachment to his pigs reflect a man so terrified of losing his fortune that he becomes incapable of recognizing danger. Jonson uses Fitzdottrel to satirize the emerging merchant class and their sometimes absurd approaches to property and status.
Wittipol and Manly function as the play's moral centers, though neither is entirely virtuous. Wittipol's wit and charm make him dangerous in his own right, as he frequently manipulates situations for personal amusement. Manly provides the voice of reason, advocating for straightforward honesty in a world dominated by deception Worth keeping that in mind. Still holds up..
The Duchess represents female agency within the constraints of Jacobean patriarchy. Her situation—widowed, wealthy, and pursued by multiple suitors—allows Jonson to explore themes of autonomy and desire within a society that sought to control women's choices.
Themes and Social Commentary
Jonson packed The Devil Is an Ass with thematic richness that rewards careful analysis. Several key concerns emerge throughout the play.
The Corruption of Capitalism The play critiques the emerging market economy of early modern England. Characters constantly discuss money, property, and investment, treating financial transactions as the primary measure of human worth. Jonson suggests that this obsession with material wealth creates its own form of damnation, making the devil's job almost unnecessary Less friction, more output..
Gender and Power The Duchess's role complicates the play's gender dynamics. While she operates within limited options, her intelligence and determination allow her to work through the predatory landscape of Jacobean courtship. Jonson presents her as both victim and agent, acknowledging the constraints placed upon women while celebrating their capacity for resistance.
The Nature of Evil Perhaps the play's most provocative theme involves the relationship between supernatural evil and human folly. If human greed, gullibility, and corruption already produce suffering, what need is there for the devil? Jonson seems to suggest that the real monsters walk among us, wearing human faces and operating within legal frameworks.
Performance and Identity The play constantly questions the stability of identity. Devils disguise themselves as lawyers, exorcists, and noblemen. Humans disguise their true intentions behind masks of politeness and piety. This preoccupation with performance reflects Renaissance anxieties about the theater itself, which Jonson both embraced and critiqued throughout his career.
Literary Significance
The Devil Is an Ass occupies an important position in Jonson's oeuvre and in the development of English comedy. The play demonstrates Jonson's ability to adapt classical forms to contemporary concerns, creating a work that feels simultaneously ancient and modern. Its blend of supernatural elements with social realism influenced later writers including William Congreve and Oscar Wilde.
The play also reflects Jonson's engagement with the religious controversies of his day. So the early seventeenth century witnessed intense debates about witchcraft, demonology, and the supernatural. By presenting the devil as a bumbling bureaucrat rather than a fearsome adversary, Jonson offered a skeptical perspective on these anxieties, suggesting that theatrical representations of evil might be more dangerous than the reality.
Reception and Legacy
Initial reception of The Devil Is an Ass proved mixed. That's why contemporary audiences apparently enjoyed the comedy but found the supernatural elements confusing or excessive. Day to day, jonson himself expressed frustration with the play, reportedly considering it inferior to his other works. That said, modern scholars have reassessed the play's value, recognizing its sophisticated commentary on early modern capitalism, gender relations, and the psychology of belief.
Today, the play serves as an important document for understanding Jacobean culture. It reveals
the complex interplay between deception and desire, and how these forces shape human interaction. Through its satirical lens, the play examines the mechanisms by which individuals are manipulated, not by overt supernatural power, but by the exploitation of their own vulnerabilities—be they greed, lust, or a yearning for social advancement. In this way, Jonson’s drama transcends its specific historical moment to offer a timeless critique of the human condition Not complicated — just consistent..
The play’s enduring relevance lies in its portrayal of a society where identity is fluid and morality is negotiable. Still, the true horror is not in the horns and hooves of a mythical beast, but in the calculated cruelty of the seemingly respectable citizen who preys on the weak. On top of that, by reducing the devil to a frustrated functionary, Jonson challenges audiences to confront the mundane origins of evil. This unsettling idea continues to resonate, reminding us that the most dangerous forces are often those that operate within the very structures meant to uphold order and justice And it works..
Not obvious, but once you see it — you'll see it everywhere.
To wrap this up, The Devil Is an Ass stands as a brilliant and cynical comedy that dissects the foundations of Jacobean society. It is a play about the art of the con, where the greatest deceptions are those we perform upon ourselves. Jonson’s genius lies in his ability to blend biting satire with profound philosophical inquiry, creating a work that is both a hilarious farce and a disturbing meditation on the nature of evil. When all is said and done, the play suggests that the devil’s greatest trick was not convincing the world he didn’t exist, but in making us believe that the real monsters are something else entirely Small thing, real impact. Less friction, more output..
