The article discusses research and criticism on Ben Jonson's play "Volpone." Several scholars have found classical precedents to the play and argued that it has borrowed from more than thirty classical texts in ten percent of its total lines. On the issue of topicality, critics believe that the setting closely resembles Venice, Italy and it sounded like a warning against capitalist corruption. An analysis of the characters, themes, style, tone, plot, structure and reception is also provided.