Heads up: Ben Jonson isn't pro-Puritan, and The Alchemist proves it. In fact, this play makes a pretty direct comparison between the belief of Puritan ideals (cute white bonnets and all) and the belief in astrology, the Fairy Queen, and, yes, alchemy.
Ben Jonson goes one step further and paints the Anabaptists in this play as some of the nastiest hopefuls around. They steal from orphans. They have no problem counterfeiting money. The Alchemist makes a couple of Puritan brethren look worse than a) a gambling addict b) a prostitute and c) a shady butler.
In fact, the Anabaptists are portrayed as just as gross as a dude who wants to sleep with other guys' wives and walk around naked admiring himself in a hall of mirrors. (Gross.)
Questions About Religion
- Which belief system is portrayed as the most sympathetic in this play?
- Do you think Ben Jonson is anti-religion in general? Why?
- Which character in this play is the most morally good? Do they ascribe to a set of morals outlines by any one religion? If so, what religion?
Chew on This
Because The Alchemist is a satire, nothing is portrayed sacred…even religion.
Ben Jonson is pro-religion, but he's not a fan of fundamentalism.