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Throughout The Alchemist, Ben Jonson makes repeated references to the philosopher’s stone—an alchemical substance that is said to transform base metals like copper and tin into gold and silver and also produce the elixir of life, an additional substance which promises to give eternal life and youth to anyone who consumes it. In the play, the stone represents alchemy as an entire field, but it also symbolizes deception and greed. Subtle is a con who claims to be an alchemist in possession of the philosopher’s stone, and his victims, Abel Drugger, Sir Epicure Mammon, and the Anabaptists, Ananias and Tribulation Wholesome, each want to get their hands on the stone. Subtle, of course, doesn’t have the stone, and Jonson likewise implies that no alchemist, real or imagined, has access to the stone. Jonson appears to put little stock in alchemy, especially the philosopher’s stone, which was considered a legitimate branch of study in Jonson’s time.
Each of Subtle’s victims want the philosopher’s stone to satisfy selfish and greedy ends. Abel Drugger wants the stone to bring him wealth and guarantee his new apothecary shop is successful, and Sir Epicure Mammon wants the stone to turn all the metal in his house, and all the metal in England, into gold. He also wants the stone to secure him the elixir of life, which he is hoping will give him unlimited sexual prowess and stamina. The Anabaptists, Ananias and Tribulation Wholesome, want the stone to selfishly advance their radical religious beliefs, which will be much easier with endless money and the influence that comes along with it. According to legend, the philosopher’s stone can only be created or possessed by those with pure and pious intentions that promise to serve the greater good; however, all of Jonson’s characters are lustful and greedy, and they plan to use the stone to deceptive ends that fulfil their own needs rather than those of broader society.
The Philosopher’s Stone Quotes in The Alchemist
The The Alchemist quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Philosopher’s Stone. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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The Dedication
Quotes
If thou beest more, thou art an understander, and then I trust thee. If thou art one that tak’st up, and but a pretender, beware at what hands thou receiv’st thy commodity; for thou wert never more fair in the way to be cozened than in this age in poetry, especially in plays: wherein now the concupiscence of dances and antics so reigneth, as to run away from Nature and be afraid of her is the only point of art that tickles the spectators.
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Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
And you, too,
Will give the cause, forsooth? You will insult
And claim a primacy in the divisions?
You must be chief? As if you only had
The powder to project with? And the work
Were not begun out of equality?
The venture tripartite? All things in common?
Without priority? ’Sdeath, you perpetual curs,
Fall to your couples again, and cozen kindly
And heartily and lovingly, as you should,
And lose not the beginning of a term,
Or, by this hand, I shall grow factious too,
And take my part, and quit you.
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Act 1, Scene 4
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Methinks I see him entering ordinaries,
Dispensing for the pox; and plaguy houses,
Reaching his dose; walking Moorfields for lepers;
And offering citizens’ wives pomander-bracelets
As his preservative, made of the elixir;
Searching the spittle, to make old bawds young;
And the highways for beggars to make rich.
I see no end of his labours. He will make
Nature ashamed of her long sleep, when art,
Who’s but a stepdame, shall do more than she,
In her best love to mankind, ever could.
If his dream last, he’ll turn the age to gold.
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Act 2, Scene 2
Quotes
For I do mean
To have a list of wives and concubines
Equal with Solomon, who had the stone
Alike with me; and I will make me a back
With the elixir that shall be as tough
As Hercules, to encounter fifty a night.
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I will have all my beds blown up, not stuffed;
Down is too hard. And then mine oval room
Filled with such pictures as Tiberius took
From Elephantis, and dull Aretine
But coldly imitated. Then, my glasses
Cut in more subtle angles, to disperse
And multiply the figures as I walk
Naked between my succubae.
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Act 2, Scene 3
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Pray you, sir, stay.
Rather than I’ll be brayed, sir, I’ll believe,
That alchemy is a pretty kind of game,
Somewhat like tricks o’the cards, to cheat a man
With charming.
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Act 3, Scene 1
Quotes
Good brother, we must bend unto all means
That may give furtherance to the holy cause.
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Act 4, Scene 1
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Sweet Madame, let me be particular—
Particular, sir? I pray you, know your distance.
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The Philosopher’s Stone Symbol Timeline in The Alchemist
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Philosopher’s Stone appears in The Alchemist. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Argument
...profits. They attract much business and “much abuse,” and they sell “fortunes,” “bawdry,” and “the stone.”
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Act 1, Scene 3
...saying he thinks Drugger has a good chance of coming into possession of the philosopher’s stone. Drugger is obviously excited and gives Subtle a handful of coins. As Drugger leaves, he...
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Act 1, Scene 4
...change. Doll asks why, and Subtle explains that Mammon thinks Subtle has created the philosopher’s stone for him. Mammon has been talking around town for the last month as if he...
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Act 2, Scene 1
Sir Epicure Mammon enters with his friend, Surly. Mammon is excited; creating the philosopher’s stone is supposed to take years, but Subtle has done it in just 10 months. Today...
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Surly doesn’t believe Mammon. The philosopher’s stone must be a hoax, he says. When Surly sees “th’ effects of the great medicine”...
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...plague. Surly still doesn’t believe him and says he cannot be “transmuted” by the philosopher’s stone. If Surly won’t believe him, Mammon says, he will believe historical record. Mammon knows of...
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Act 2, Scene 2
...as an alchemist’s assistant. Mammon instantly asks if Subtle has been successful in creating the stone, and Face promises it will be ready soon. The “red ferment” has set about Subtle’s...
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Face goes to check on Subtle and the stone, leaving Mammon alone with Surly. Mammon continues listing all the stone will bring him, and...
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Act 2, Scene 3
...him to “convert.” Subtle reminds Mammon that he must have honest intentions with the philosopher’s stone. The process won’t be successful if Mammon has ill intent, and it will be a...
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...Mammon says, is whom Subtle must convince. Surly agrees; he does not believe in the stone and cannot be “gulled.” Convincing Surly will be easy, Subtle says, because his work is...
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...and asks when they plan to “make projection.” Subtle tells Mammon to be patient. The stone is in a vapor bath, and Face must add the solution, let it congeal, and...
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...“propria materia” (a specific substance). If the liquid is dried, Subtle says, it becomes a stone; however, if it retains liquid, it becomes Sulphur or quicksilver—the “parents” of all metals. This...
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...him and say that he is a gentleman. Face asks if he should mention the stone. Should he tell her that Mammon will make her rich like a queen, Face asks?...
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Act 2, Scene 4
...claims the “holy brethren / Of Amsterdam, the exiled saints” are searching for the philosopher’s stone, too, and “hope / To raise their disciple by it.”
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Act 3, Scene 1
...says they must make an allowance for Subtle if they are to get the philosopher’s stone. The “silenced saints” will not be restored without the stone, Tribulation says. Ananias agrees and...
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Act 3, Scene 2
...much money as he needs. Subtle says they have made the right decision. The philosopher’s stone is sure to further their cause. The elixir alone will be profitable, Subtle says. They...
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...turns metal to gold can’t help but have many friends, Subtle says again. The philosopher’s stone is a miracle he claims, “whose tradition / Is not from men, but spirits.” Ananias...
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Act 4, Scene 1
...is behaving in a lustful way, he will never agree to give him the philosopher’s stone. Mammon may talk to Doll about mathematics or poetry—they can even talk “bawdry”—but “no word...
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Mammon tells Doll that he is “the lord of the philosopher’s stone,” and she is “the lady.” Doll feigns shock and asks if Mammon really has the...
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Mammon tells Doll they will take the stone and run away to a “free state,” where they will live together and “enjoy a...
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Act 4, Scene 5
...their work by a month at least. Suddenly, Face enters in a panic. The philosopher’s stone, he says, has exploded in flames.
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...is angry that she has been driven into a fit. Mammon asks Face if the stone is really lost, and Face confirms there is little left. Mammon curses his punishment, but,...
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