'Volpone is a comedy from the villains perspective; we see his greed punished and rejoice.' Discuss.

While Volpone is considered a comedy, with its farciscal and amusingly convoluted scams suceeding and failing consistently; the final scene of the play asks the audience to judge Volpone themselves; suggesting that the rule of the law is invalid, and that their judgement meaningless to the true feelings of the audience. Volpone requests that the audience consider his plight, and invite them to view him as a showman and a rebel. In doing so, Volpone becomes not a comedic villain, but a tragic hero. His end is just in the eyes of the law but excessive in that of the audience, who despite the horror of Volpone's spiraling conduct, cannot help but sympathise with him as a brilliant exploiter of the corrupt that fell through his own avarice and lust. The play becomes tragic rather than comic, as Volpone's final address demands an opportunity for redemption, his anagnorisis denied, and thus an audience does not rejoice, instead feeling the catharsis of a full tragedy, despite the comic nature of the majority of the play.