THE ALCHEMIST BY BEN JONSON SUMMARY

 

 As the Plague breaks out Lovewit would like to move the countryside of London, hop-yard. He hands over  his house to his butler, Jeremy. Jeremy is known by the name of Face in this play. He lives with subtle, the fake alchemist, and a prostitute named Dol Common in Lovewit’s house. They run a major fraud business in the house.

When the play opens there is an argument between Face and subtle that continues throughout the play. The argument is based on the supremacy for the business they run, each argues that their contribution is immense. Dol negotiates in between and resolves their conflict and compel both to shake their hands. Meanwhile, there is knock on the door the first gull of the day, a legal clerk, enters. Subtle takes the role of the “Doctor” while Face plays the role of “Captain Face”.

 

Dapper, a legal clerk, desires for a spirit that can help him win the game at gambling. Subtle tells him that he is connected to the queen of fairies and promises him to get one for him. He asks Dapper to come back in the next day and bring a clean shirt with him. As soon as Dapper left, another client, known as Drugger, enters. He is a tobacconist who comes to know how he should place his shop. Subtle asks him to return back with tobacco and a damask. The argument between Face and Subtle resume, however, Dol interferes and warns them about the visit of Sir Epicure Mammon.

Subtle has promised Sir Epicure Mammon that he will make him a Philosopher’s stone for which Mammon is extremely happy and is fantasizing about it. Now, Sir Mammon and Sir Pertinax, his cynical assistance are standing next to the door. Face now plays the role of “Lungs”, a doctor’s laboratory assistance while the two conmen astonish Mammon and irritate Surly with their twisted scientific language. Face told Surly that he will meet him at church at half an hour, meanwhile, Dol enters that provokes Sir Mammon and he starts pleading Face to arrange a meeting with Dol.

 

Another client Ananias, an Anabaptist, comes and meets with Subtle with anger. He wants Subtle to give him the Philosopher’s stone so that he can earn much money to convert people to his religion. As he leaves, another client Kastril is brought by Drugger. Kastril comes to know how to fight in court and win the case.  Face give all the necessary technics and lessons to him. Kastril is immediately impressed by Face.

Dol, in the meantime, has gone extra comfortable with Mammon. They are caught by a furious “father” (Subtle). He tells them, as they were involved with illegal actions, all the furnace and Alchemist apparatus has been destroyed by an explosion. Mammon immediately pushed himself at the door, having entirely destroyed by the loss of his investment.

Everything is getting out of control and all the clients are gathered at the door without warning. Later, all the clients are present in the room,  while Face manages himself to get out of the spot. However, Dol informed them that Lovewit has just reached, Face changes his masks once again and become “Jeremy the Butler”.

When lovewit reaches his home, he is surrounded by the neighbors and the clients on the door. Face is forced to admit everything. Face puts every blame on the Dol and subtle, however, they manage to escape penniless from the back wall and the clients come back with police and a search warrant. The clients search every corner of the house but can’t find anything for themselves and are forced to leave with nothing. Lovewit marries the widow Dame pliant, Kastril’s sister. Kastril, Lovewit and his new wife leave the stage. Face is rewarded financially and delivers an epilogue.

 

The play Alchemist is generally considered as one of the most characteristic and best comedy and satire on the vices of the society. According to the S.T Coleridge, this play has one of the three best plots in the literature.