Transcription
The AlchemistBy: Ben JonsonJessica Shields, Kelly Goodman, CarolineHagerty, Chelsea Weidanz, KristenHartwick, Nicole Nersten, Alexander SotoRoman, Charlotte Gillespie.Tuesday, November 13, 12
CLICKER QUESTIONDid you understand the plot after you read the Alchemist?A.YesB.NoC.I didn’t readTuesday, November 13, 12
CLICKER QUESTIONDid you find the Alchemist to be funny?A.Yes, I was rolling on the floorB.It made me chuckleC.It was not funnyTuesday, November 13, 12
AUTHORv v v v v v v v v Ben Johnson;Similar to ShakespeareAn English Renaissance DramatistSaid to be the greatest significance to the study of the Jacobeanand Elizabethan period.Wrote in almost every genre; Drama, comedy, tragedy andmasque, poetry, lyric, and epigram.Produced over 60 playsHe was the first to expand on Literary achievements.His plays were not always a success on the stageWrote series of masquesLaid the foundation for a lot of 17th century poetry.Tuesday, November 13, 12
STAGE HISTORYv First performed in 1610 by the King’s MenTheaters closed due to plague, had to tourv v Popular in LondonCourt performances in 1613 & 1623v v 1642 (English Civil War)Theaters closed, The Alchemist secretly performed (TheImperick)v Restoration reopened theaters—most popular old playv Actors gained immense fame from this playv Revived in 1899, restored to professional stage in 1916v Still performed todayv Tuesday, November 13, 12
PLOT SUMMARYv Lovewit travels to London to avoid an outbreak of the Plaguev Subtle and Face argue about who will be the greater conman-eachbelieve that without their help in the scheme, the other would benowhere without each other.v Subtle, who also goes by “the Doctor,” Dol Common, and the Facecome together as con artists to make money. Subtle uses promisesof money, anger, and scientific terminology to outwit everyonewho comes in.v Dapper comes and wants a shortcut to get better at gamblingwith the help of a spirit- he’s tricked into leaving money forSubtle’s services.v Drugger comes in and wants to know how to do well in his shophe’s tricked into leaving money also.Tuesday, November 13, 12
PLOT SUMMARYSir Epicure Mammon comes in hopes of becoming extremelywealthy through the philosopher’s stone, as well as having manywomen to have sex with and a lot of food to eat. While he talks toSubtle and Face, he sees Dol and wants to meet her immediately.He also says he will send metal to the two conmen.v Surely, at this point, is cynical and does not believe everythingthat’s going on.v Tribulation Wholesome and Ananais are both Puritans, but wanhelp from the con artists to get money to have people convert totheir religion. Ananais argues with Subtle, and is thrown out.v Drugger comes back asking for a sign for his shop-again handsover more money. He also talks about a rich widow he wants tomarry.v Tuesday, November 13, 12
CONTINUEDv v v v v v v v v v Kastril comes to learn how to fight better.Dame Pliant (Kastril’s sister) and recent widow, wants to know her fortune inmarriage.Dapper is gagged and taken away after the scene with the “Fairy Queen” andDapper hands over all his belongings.Mammon talks to Dol Common but is talking too loud so Face takes him away.Face and Subtle argue about who will get to sleep with Dame Pliant, the richwidowSurely, dressed as a Spaniard, appears-the conmen try to mock him, they tellDame that she will have sex with the Spaniard, but she refuses.Dol comes in talking “mad” Mammon Panics then leavesThe furnace is destroyed, Surly comes in as himself to tell the widow what’s reallygoing on.Face gets Kastril to fight Surly while Lovewit comes home to realize what Facedid.Lovewit decides to be with the Widow in the end.Tuesday, November 13, 12
I CLICKER QUESTIONIn your opinion, who is the most important character?A)SubtleB)FaceC)DruggerD)LovewitTuesday, November 13, 12
SUPERIORITYv v 1.2.3.Audience knows more than a character, and therefore feelssuperiorExamples in the Alchemist:The audience feels superior to Dapper and DruggerAudience knows Face and Subtle are conmenAudience feels superior to all customers of Subtle and FaceTuesday, November 13, 12
RELIEFv Laughter resulting from the release of excessive nervous energy ortension.v Face, Subtle, and Dol provide us with the majority of the tension inthe play. They keep disguising themselves and swindling the gueststhat come into the house, the tension slowly builds throughout theplay. Surly gets close to exposing their plans, but is always beaten,making the tension peak during the play.When guests exit through or at the end of each scene, relief isv created through mostly Face and Subtle joking about how theyconned the guests. With each successful deception, they have moreguests arriving to visit the house adding more schemes throughoutthe play.Tuesday, November 13, 12
Relief ContinuedAs Surly tries to tell Dame Pliant that Face, Subtle, and Dol arerunning a scam, Surly reassures her that he will see the matter tohimself. He starts confronting Subtle, who still thinks that Surly isthe Spanish Don and speak no English. Subtle tells Surly that hewill pick his pockets only to have Surly answer in English, startlingSubtle. Surly starts fighting Subtle only to have Face enter shortlyafter. Surly decides to give a long speech about the scam while Facequietly slips away during the conversation. Face returns withKastril, telling him that Surly was an impostor. Kastril startsquarreling with Surly.Later in the play Lovewit returns to the house and Face has tov shave to look like Jeremy the Butler again. Mammon and Surlyreturn to accuse Face, but only for him to deny it. Face eventuallyrisks exposure.v Tuesday, November 13, 12
INCONGRUITYv v v The Practice of alchemyPhilosopher’s stoneElixer of lifeSubtle’s use of scientific terminology to trick his customers.Tuesday, November 13, 12
I CLICKER QUESTIONWhat theory do you think was the most prevalent throughout the y, November 13, 12
MODERN ADAPTATIONMatchstick Men (2003)Directed By Ridley Scotthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v 24JoNlaOqpsv Roy Waller (Nicholas Cage): Con artistv Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell): Roy’s Partner, Protégév Angela (Alison Lohman): Roy’s 14 year old daughterTuesday, November 13, 12
WORK urces/5/notes-on-benjonsons-the-alchemist.pdfBurt, Daniel S. "Jonson, Ben." The Literary 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novelists, Playwrights,and Poets of All Time, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary ReferenceOnline. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID WE54&SID 5&iPin LITONE066&SingleRecord Truehttp://cco.cambridge.org/uid 1824/book?id ccol0521641136 CCOL0521641136Alchemist (Jonson) Study Guide and Essays. “GradeSaver. GradeSaver, 1999-2012. Web. 1 Oct2012. m/the-alchemist-jonson/Tuesday, November 13, 12
Theaters closed, The Alchemist secretly performed (The Imperick)! Restoration reopened theaters—most popular old play! . jonsons-the-alchemist.pdf Burt, Daniel S. "Jonson, Ben." The Literary 100:
