Surly / The Spaniard Character Analysis

Mammon’s friend. Surly goes with Mammon to see Subtle about the philosopher’s stone, but unlike Mammon, Surly does not believe that Subtle is an alchemist with the ability to create the stone. Surly tries to tell Mammon that Face and Subtle are conmen, but Mammon refuses to listen, so Surly disguises himself as the Spaniard to prove it. After Face sends Surly to the Tempest Church for a bogus meeting just to get rid of him, Surly dresses like a Spanish count and tricks Face into believing he is an out-of-town aristocrat looking for a prostitute. Face invites Surly back to the house to meet Doll, but when he arrives, Doll is already busy with Mammon. Surly speaks only Spanish and pretends not to understand English, so Face and Subtle insult him and openly admit they plan to con him, assuming he doesn’t know what they’re saying. Since Doll is occupied, Face and Subtle send Surly out to the garden with Dame Pliant, who also believes he is a Spanish count looking for a bride. Surly tells Dame Pliant that he is really a poor Englishman, and she agrees to marry him anyway, but her brother, Kestrel, disapproves. Surly tries to tell Kestrel that Subtle and Face are cons looking to scam them out of money, but Kestrel won’t listen. He chases Surly out of the house and down the street, where Surly is presumably able to convince Kestrel of the truth about Subtle and Face. Surly returns to Subtle and Face’s at the end of the play with Mammon and the other victims, but they are turned away by Lovewit and never receive justice. The character of Surly represents transformation and deception in Jonson’s play. His character transforms from Surly, Mammon’s friend, to a “Spanish Don,” and he manages to trick everyone, including Face and Subtle.