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Act 5, Scene 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Alchemist, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Alchemy and Transformation
Religion
Sex and Greed
Deception and Gullibility
Summary
Analysis
Surly and Mammon knock on the door, shouting that Face and Subtle are “Rogues, / Cozeners, impostors, [and] bawds!” Face answers the door and asks what they want. Mammon says they would like to come in, but Face says it is strange that they should want to enter another man’s house. Face points to Lovewit and says he is the owner. Mammon asks Lovewit where the “cheaters” are, and Face informs them that Lovewit is just returning from the country. The neighbors identify Surly and Mammon as two of the men they saw entering the house in Lovewit’s absence. Face refuses to let Surly and Mammon in, and they promise to return with a warrant.
Surly and Mammon don’t seem to recognize Face as Jeremy either, which again speaks to their gullibility. Mammon obviously now believes that Face and Subtle are conmen (“Rogues, / Cozeners, imposters”), and he wants justice. Face again must rely on deception, only this time he must con Lovewit into believing he has no idea what is going on and has been away, like Lovewit, to avoid the plague.
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Lovewit again asks Face what is going on, and Kestrel knocks on the door. Kestrel threatens to call the police, and Face asks him who he is looking for. Kestrel says he is looking for the “bawdy Doctor, and the cozening Captain,” as well as his sister, Dame Pliant. Lovewit again looks to Face for an explanation, but Face swears he has been gone for weeks. Ananias and Tribulation Wholesome begin knocking on the door, too, and when they can’t get inside, they exit with Kestrel to go fetch the police.
Again, no one seems to recognize Face as Jeremy the butler, which speaks to their gullibility and Face’s ability to successfully deceive people. Dame Pliant is still in the house, as are Subtle and Doll, and Face must think fast to shuffle all his scams, which are quickly unraveling.
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“The world’s turned to Bedlam,” Lovewit says. The neighbors tell Lovewit that each of the men who came to the door have visited the house in the last few weeks, and Face again swears he was gone. Suddenly, Dapper cries out from the next room. Face forgot all about Dapper, and he tells Lovewit he has no idea who the man is. Dapper can be heard asking Subtle about the Fairy Queen, and Lovewit looks to Face and demands the truth.
“Bedlam” is a reference to the psychiatric hospital in London, and with this comment, Lovewit implies that everyone has gone insane. Face is clearly caught, and he has no choice but to tell Lovewit the truth.
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“What shall I do?” Face asks. “I am catched.” Lovewit asks the neighbors to leave, and Face begs Lovewit not to discipline him. Face admits he has been using Lovewit’s house for the last few weeks, but if Lovewit promises not to punish him, Face will make it worth his while. “I’ll help you to a widow,” Face says to Lovewit, thinking of Dame Pliant. “Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one.” Face asks for Lovewit’s forgiveness, and Lovewit asks to see the widow.
Face is caught, and he is hoping Dame Pliant will get him out of trouble. Lovewit proves to be just as greedy and lustful as the rest of them, as he immediately jumps at the chance to marry a rich, young woman. Nearly everyone in Jonson’s play is greedy and lustful, and, Jonson thus implies, broader society is as well.
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