Discuss Alchemist--By Ben Jonson as a comedy.

In the prologue to the Alchemist, Jonson voices how the contemporary time was dominated by manners what is now commonly regarded as Humours. Thee is a mention of the whore,, the bawd, the pimp, and the imposter as persons that represent some of the humours. It is the humours that supposedly determined the disposition of a man, viz—choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic or sanguine. To what was humours to Jonson is now man’s obsession or complex.
Alchemist makes an elaborate survey of man’s gullibility, the humour thereby represents is the master passion of greed that manipulates each of the dupes in the play. Pointed out in the prologue Jonson represents such humours to comic effect to make people realize the absurdity of their situation in face of foibles and follies.
As in Volpone, Jonson focuses on one humour that is Avarice in Alchemist. It is nothing but greed for money and gain and the way it dominates all the characters subtly or blatantly.
It is noteworthy that the characters do not show any inclination to hoard money; on the contrary they are guided by ulterior aims or motives in which money becomes a necessity. In this way Jonson etches distinctive qualities in the characters.
Mammon the sensualist is also a philanthropist; Anabaptists want money as a means to power, Kastril and Dapper are social climbers while Drugger the meanest of all tradesmen is averse to water-bills and his empty house. However, Subtle, Face and Dol are contrasted from the dupes by their skill, wit and glib talk. They are cheaters who are even ready to cheat one another.