THE ALCHEMIST BEN JONSON BY GROUP VI AUTHOR

THE ALCHEMIST -BEN JONSON BY- GROUP “VI”

AUTHOR INTRODUCTION � � � � AUTHOR – Benjamin Johnson. POPULARLY KNOW AS – Ben Johnson. BORN – 1572, in Westminster, a suburb London. In 1595, he turned to the stage for employment both as actor and playwright. In 1598, Jonson killed a fellow-actor in a duel and went to prison. Famous work – ‘EVER MAN IN HUMOUR’. DIED – 1637.

MAIN CHARACTERS � � � � � Subtle : The alchemist. Face : The house-keeper. Dol Common : Their colleague. Dapper : Lawyer’s clerk. Drugger : A tobacco-man. Lovewit : Master of the house. Sir Epicure Mammon : A knight. Pertinax Surly : A gamester. Tribulation Wholesome : A pastor of Amsterdam.

� Ananias : A deacon. Kastril : The angry boy. Dame Pliant : His sister, a widow. � Neighbour’s, officers and attendants. � �

ACT - I � � Scene opens in the house of Lovewit in the city of London. Subtle and Face were quarrelling with each other and Dol intervenes and stop’s the fight in between them. Dapper came to Subtle , the alchemist to win money at gambling’s. Subtle say’s to Dapper that, “he is related to Queen of Fairies and that after he provides the spirits and then he would become the winner of all gambling parties.

� � � Dapper gave some money to Subtle. The next visitor was Drugger, the tobacconist. Drugger wants the advice of a alchemist since he is going to open a new shop and wants to know were he has to insert the door and shelves. Subtle says that, he knows metoposcopy and palmistry. He says to him that , he has a bright future. And Face gets money from Drugger.

ACT - II � � The third visitor was Mammon and he came with his friend Surly. Mammon hopes to acquire enormous strength so that he could keep a large number of wives and mistresses like king Solomon and to have endless sexual relationship by getting the philosopher’s stone. But Surly does not believe in philosopher’s stone Subtle try’s to convince Surly and to gets his trust but he can’t.

� � � Surly warns Mammon that Face and Subtle were really cheating him. Without hearing anything, Mammon gave ten pounds to Face Mammon say’s to Face about his interest on Dol Common and to satisfy his lust in any cost with her. Surly does not like Mammon’s views and behaviour. Face agrees to do so.

� � � The next was Ananias, an Anabaptist , comes to meet Subtle. He was send by his superiors to know about the philosopher’s stone and when they will get it. When Subtle ask for more money Ananias refuse to give him, so Subtle get’s anger. Ananias leaves the place in anger. Drugger pays a visit to the place for the second time as he wants a lucky sign. Drugger tells about his neighbourhood a young widow and her brother interested in knowing her fortune.

� � They wants to learn the art of quarrelling and ask him to bring them to them. Face and Subtle were interested in marring the young rich widow.

ACT - III � � Since Subtle sent a warning to Anabaptists through Ananias Tribulation decides to meet Subtle. They wants the philosopher’s stone for religious purpose. Tribulation visit the Subtle and gave the money that was demanded by Subtle to coals for the laboratory. Both the Anabaptists were satisfied with Subtle’s explanation.

� � Then Face went to temple church as captain, to meet Surly and Surly went as a Spanish Count to find the truth of the Subtle and Face. To find the truth Surly he said , he is ready to pay plenty of money to gratifying his lust through Dol. Dapper returns to receive the favours from the Queen Fairies. Drugger came with Kastril, who was very satisfied with the speech of Face and he agrees to come back with his sister.

� � � Face say’s to Drugger that Subtle will make the young widow to marry him, so Drugger became happy and went to bring the suit for Face. Dapper is waiting to be introduced to the Queen of Fairies. Both cover face of Dapper and Face imitate the voice of fairies. Dol comes and announces the arrival of Sri Mammon, face gag a ginger bread and put him in a toilet.

ACT - IV � � Face said to Mammon about the alchemical process is in final stage. But Mammon was interested in the lady (Dol). Face said him that, the lady is also interested in him and warns him not to talk about religious subject and she would becomes mad. Dol appears before Mammon, Face ask them to move to the room upstairs and the do so. Kastril comes with his sister and Face informs about the arrival of Spanish count.

� � � Kastril and Dame Pliant were send to upper room. Face invited the Spanish count and promised to provide a women. Face and Subtle decided to ask widow to sleep with the Spanish count and the Count pays much compliments to her and took her to another room. After receiving the hint from Face, Dol act as she got mad. Subtle too act like he got angry and he repeats that Mammon’s evil action has spoiled the process.

� � � Mammon took all the blame in his head and he was ready to pay again for the process. Dol emptied the Spaniard’s pockets. Surly, the Spanish Count does not tries to have sexual intercourse with her and told the whole truth to her. And he also said, he would marry her honourably. And then Surly called Face and Subtle as cheat and fraud.

� � At that time Dol informs that the owner of the house Lovewit come back unexpectedly. Face understand that they are in danger and he tells to Subtle and Dol to pack the things in two trunks. And he also promises to meet them some day. Subtle and Dol become busy packing their things.

ACT – V Ø Ø Lovewit came to know from his neighbours that a lot of people have been visiting his house daily. Jeremy appears and warns his master that the house has been visited by plague door should be shut for a month. Both Surly and Mammon cannot recognize Face in his butler’s uniform. Mammon accuses that cheats and rogues are inside the house and also decide to bring the police.

Ø Ø Ø Ananias and Tribulation come there. Then a loud voice is heard from inside the house and that was Dapper who was inside the house. Then Face explains the detail about the client and the way how they were duped. Subtle and Dol both agrees to cheat the Face and to share the money between them. Face gave a offer to marry the young widow and Lovewit was also ready to marry her.

� � Face came back to Subtle and Dol and said, he has already got his master’s pardon and you can’t take anything from here. He will leave you free without saying you to police and allowing you both to escape. Lovewit and Dame Pliant got married with the help of Face, who says that he has got rid of all the exclients of the alchemist, submits himself to the judgement of the audience.