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The Dedication
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
Jonson’s argument appears as an acrostic poem, and the first letter of each line spells “The Alchemist.” He explains that a terrible plague has swept London, and the master of a house has fled to his country home, leaving his city home under the care of his servant. The servant is a “cozener,” as are his associates, and they have been looking for a house in which to setup shop. Thus, they use the master’s house as a place for their “narrow practice” and agree to split the profits. They attract much business and “much abuse,” and they sell “fortunes,” “bawdry,” and “the stone.”
The appearance of Jonson’s argument as an acrostic poem suggests that Jonson intended for his play to be read as well as watched. Jonson repeatedly uses the word “cozener,” which is someone who tricks or deceives others, and the “narrow practice” his characters set up refers to the vice and sin involved in their criminal enterprise. The word “bawdry” implies they are running a brothel, and “fortunes” and “the stone” harkens to alchemy, mysticism, and the philosopher’s stone.
Themes
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