Character Relationship Map: Volpone

Characters

• Volpone (played by Harry Baur) — protagonist

  Volpone is a debtor who faces creditors after promised goods fail to arrive, and he struggles to avoid prison. With Mosca, he conceals his fortune and pretends to be near death to encourage hopeful he...

• Mosca (played by Louis Jouvet) — supporting

  Mosca is Volpone’s servant and partner in managing the concealed fortune. He spreads the story that Volpone is dying and that the will’s heir has not yet been named, encouraging Corbaccio, Corvino, an...

• Corbaccio (played by Charles Dullin) — supporting

  Corbaccio is one of the men hoping to inherit Volpone’s fortune after Mosca spreads the news that Volpone is near death. He is also suggested by Mosca as a possible witness for Canina. His hopes of in...

• Corvino (played by Fernand Ledoux) — supporting

  Corvino is a creditor to whom Volpone had promised goods aboard the missing ship Sagittaire, and he hopes to inherit Volpone’s fortune. He keeps his wife, Colomba, closely confined, but Mosca persuade...

• Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio (played by Alexandre Rignault) — supporting

  Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio argues in court that Volpone is being slandered and confronts Corvino, who threatens violence. When Volpone appears lifeless, the captain asks to test him with a knife, bu...

• Canina (played by Marion Dorian) — supporting

  Canina hopes to marry Volpone and asks Mosca to arrange witnesses for her. Mosca suggests Corbaccio and Corvino, while advising that Canina should not mention him. Her request links her to Mosca’s eff...

• Voltore (as Témerson) (played by Jean Témerson) — supporting

  Voltore, identified in the cast listing as Témerson, is among those who hope to inherit Volpone’s fortune after Mosca spreads the claim that Volpone is near death. Mosca encourages his expectations wh...

• Le juge (played by Louis Frémont) — supporting

  Le juge presides over the dispute involving Volpone and Colomba. When Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio asks to test the apparently lifeless Volpone with a knife, the judge stops him. The court then begins...

• Colomba Corvino (played by Jacqueline Delubac) — supporting

  Colomba Corvino is Corvino’s wife, whom he keeps closely confined. At Mosca’s urging, Corvino allows her to visit the supposedly dying Volpone, who flirts with her and asks her to place a hand on his...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Corvino → Colomba Corvino (Family Husband And Wife) — Corvino controls Colomba's movements, later permits her to visit Volpone after Mosca's persuasion, and accuses Volpone over their encounter.

  The plot identifies Colomba as Corvino's wife and says that he keeps her closely confined.

• Volpone → Le juge (Professional Defendant And Judge) — Le juge presides over the case involving Volpone and the disputed accusation; the provided account ends before a sentence is announced.

  The dispute reaches court, where Le juge stops Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio from testing the apparently lifeless Volpone with a knife.

• Volpone → Canina (Romantic Suitor And Intended Bride) — Canina seeks marriage to Volpone, but the plot does not establish that he reciprocates her intentions.

  Canina hopes to marry Volpone and asks Mosca to arrange witnesses.

• Volpone → Mosca (Professional Master And Servant) — Mosca serves Volpone and helps spread the false story that Volpone is near death, while Volpone privately mocks the people Mosca encourages.

  The plot identifies Mosca as Volpone's servant and shows them jointly concealing Volpone's fortune and misleading prospective heirs.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Corvino → Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio (Conflict Courtroom Adversaries) — They oppose each other during the court dispute over Corvino's accusation against Volpone.

  Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio argues that Volpone is being slandered and clashes with Corvino, who threatens violence.

• Mosca → Colomba Corvino (Alliance Persuader And Visitor) — Mosca's persuasion enables Colomba's visit, which leads to the encounter later disputed in court.

  Mosca persuades Corvino to let Colomba attend the supposedly dying Volpone.

• Mosca → Canina (Social Go-Between) — Mosca advises Canina on witnesses and tells her not to mention him.

  Canina asks Mosca to arrange witnesses for her hoped-for marriage to Volpone, and Mosca suggests Corbaccio and Corvino.

• Mosca → Voltore (as Témerson) (Conflict Manipulator And Prospective Heir) — Mosca encourages Voltore (as Témerson) and the other prospective heirs while the will's heir remains unnamed.

  Voltore (as Témerson) hopes to inherit after Mosca circulates the story of Volpone's impending death.

• Mosca → Corvino (Conflict Manipulator And Prospective Heir) — Mosca uses Corvino's inheritance hopes to arrange Colomba's visit to Volpone.

  Mosca encourages Corvino's hope of inheriting Volpone's fortune and persuades him to let Colomba visit the supposedly dying Volpone.

• Mosca → Corbaccio (Conflict Manipulator And Prospective Heir) — Mosca cultivates Corbaccio's expectation of inheriting Volpone's fortune as part of the scheme surrounding the blank will.

  Mosca spreads the story that Volpone is near death and encourages Corbaccio to hope for the inheritance.

• Volpone → Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio (Alliance Defended Party And Advocate) — Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio defends Volpone against the accusation and clashes with Corvino during the court dispute.

  Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio argues in court that Volpone is being slandered.

• Volpone → Colomba Corvino (Conflict Accused Assailant And Accuser) — Volpone's conduct toward Colomba becomes the subject of a contested accusation, with her account and other testimony complicating the case.

  Volpone flirts with Colomba and encourages her to put a hand on his heart as a supposed healing charm; the dispute later reaches court.

• Volpone → Voltore (as Témerson) (Conflict Rivals For Inheritance) — Voltore (as Témerson) is among the hopeful heirs encouraged by Mosca, though no heir is named in the unsigned will.

  Voltore (as Témerson) hopes to inherit Volpone's fortune after Mosca spreads word that Volpone is near death.

• Volpone → Corbaccio (Conflict Rivals For Inheritance) — Corbaccio expects to inherit from Volpone, while Volpone and Mosca exploit that expectation.

  Mosca encourages Corbaccio's hope of inheriting Volpone's fortune while the identity of the heir remains unresolved.

• Volpone → Corvino (Conflict Creditor And Debtor) — Corvino is among the people expecting to inherit Volpone's fortune, and he later accuses Volpone of assaulting his wife.

  Volpone has promised Corvino goods supposedly aboard the Sagittaire, but the ship does not arrive and Volpone asks for more time.

Story Analysis

Volpone's debts, concealed fortune, and schemes give way to a contested accusation that reaches court but remains unresolved in the provided account.

Plot Progression

1. Debts and a Missing Cargo — Volpone faces creditors after the Sagittaire fails to arrive with goods promised to Corvino. His attempt to pawn a ring brings too little money, and prison remains a threat.
2. The Blank Heir — Volpone and Mosca focus on Volpone's concealed fortune. Mosca spreads a story of impending death and encourages several men to hope for an inheritance, while the will leaves its heir unnamed.
3. Canina's Marriage Request — Canina asks Mosca to arrange witnesses for her hoped-for marriage to Volpone. Mosca suggests Corbaccio and Corvino and tells her not to mention him.
4. Colomba's Visit — Corvino keeps Colomba confined, but Mosca persuades him to let her visit the supposedly dying Volpone. Volpone flirts with her and frames contact with his heart as a healing charm.
5. An Unfinished Court Dispute — Corvino accuses Volpone, and conflicting testimony brings the dispute before a judge. Le capitaine Leone Corbaccio defends Volpone; the account ends as the court weighs the evidence without announcing...