Summary and Analysis
Act V:
Scene 9
Summary
Just before their arrival at the Senate chamber, Volpone and Voltore meet once more. Volpone tells the vulture that he must be the heir; it is not within the wit of man to cozen so great a lawyer. Volpone is hounded into the courtroom by the seething gulls.
Analysis
These fast, sketch-like scenes are akin to music-hall blackouts. They are short evocations of exaggerated frustration by the plot's key characters. The character actors indicate their growing anger by bulging their eyes, bouncing back and forth on their feet, and with constant, agitated motion of all parts of their bodies, until they suddenly take out after their tormentor.