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
Mammon enters and immediately asks where Subtle is. Face tells Mammon that Subtle is busy bringing forth “projection,” after which he will begin transforming Mammon’s metal. “Into gold?” Mammon asks. Yes, Face confirms, into gold and silver. Mammon says he is only concerned with gold and wants no silver, but Face suggests he give a little to the poor. Mammon asks where Doll is, and Face says she will be along shortly. He has told Doll the most wonderful things about Mammon, Face says; however, Mammon must not mention “divinity” in her company “For fear of putting her in a rage.”
Mammon again is greedy and not at all concerned with the greater good. He only wants gold and doesn’t plan to turn anything to silver. Mammon is also lustful, which is why he immediately asks about Doll. Jonson again draws attention to religion and condemns radical Puritans, as Face warns Mammon not to speak of “divinity,” or religion. Mammon believes Doll is mad from reading a Puritan scholar, and now the mere mention of religion drives her into a fit.
Themes
Face reminds Mammon that he must be very quiet in his visit with Doll. If Subtle senses Mammon 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 of controversy,” Face reminds him. Face exits to fetch Doll, leaving Mammon alone. Mammon readies himself to meet Doll. He will “talk to her, all in gold,” Mammon says. He will have the stone soon enough, and when he does, Doll “shall feel gold, taste gold, hear gold, [and] sleep gold”
Mammon is again greedy, as he thinks only of gold, and he plans to use the stone to impress Doll and seduce her. Since the stone must be put to pious means, it can only be held by pious people. If Mammon has inappropriate sex with Doll, he won’t be deserving of the stone, which is why Face tells Mammon he must be quiet. Face reminds Mammon that he can talk about anything—even “bawdry,” or sex—but no “controversy” (religion).
Themes
Face returns with Doll, and Mammon bows to kiss her hem, but she stops him. Instead, Doll brings her lips to Mammon’s and kisses him. Face exits. Mammon instantly takes to flattering Doll, talking about her “breeding” and “blood,” but Doll claims she is but the daughter of a poor baron. “Sweet madam,” Mammon says to Doll, “let me be particular—.” Doll interrupts. “Particular, sir? I pray you, know your distance,” she says.
Mammon thinks Doll is an aristocrat, which is why he talks of her “breeding” and “blood.” Jonson again uses the word “particular” as code for sex. Mammon and Doll don’t know each other, but they are completely open to sex, which Jonson suggests is more common in society than it may seem.
Themes
Mammon continues sweet talking Doll and asks her how she spends her time, living in a house with such a “rare man.” Doll says she passes the time studying mathematics and “distillation,” and Mammon remark that it must be wonderful to study under such a “divine instructor.” Doll says it is wonderful and tells Mammon that she is interested in all natural disciplines. It is a shame, Mammon says, that Doll should live like a shut-in, studying all the while, as if she is a nun. Mammon is surprised Doll’s brother permits it, and he claims that if he was her brother, he would lavish her with diamonds. He says Doll herself is like a diamond—“created” for the “light”—and he takes off his diamond ring and gives it to her.
Mammon means Subtle when he says Doll lives with a “rare man” and “divine instructor,” and Doll implies that Subtle teaches her alchemy, or “distillation.” Mammon’s claim that Doll is a diamond “created” for the “light” harkens to the transformative powers of alchemy and its ability to create new substances. Mammon’s description of the “light” also harkens to religion, as does his comparison of Doll to a nun, which, since Doll is a prostitute, is highly ironic.
Themes
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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 stone. He says Subtle is busy “at projection” now, and the stone will soon be in his possession. He tells Doll that living like a recluse in the Friars is no place for her, and he will take her to live the most luxurious life of unimagined wealth. Doll asks Mammon what he will do when the prince finds out about the stone; the prince is sure to notice and take the stone for himself. Not if he doesn’t know, Mammon says. Doll warns him to be careful—he could end up dying in a prison cell.
Obviously, Mammon doesn’t have pure intentions when it comes to stone, and he is trying to deceive Subtle and make him believe he does. Clearly, Mammon doesn’t plan to use the stone for the good of society; he plans to hide the stone from society and use it to make himself rich and impress women so he can have sex with them. Mammon is lustful and greedy, and his interaction with Doll reflects this.
Themes
Mammon tells Doll they will take the stone and run away to a “free state,” where they will live together and “enjoy a perpetuity / Of life and lust.” Suddenly, Face enters. They are much too loud, he says. Their talk can be heard all the way in the laboratory, so Face suggests they go to a more private place, like the garden or a room upstairs. “Excellent! Lungs,” Mammon says to Face, handing him more money. “There’s for thee.” Face thanks him and reminds him again not to speak of religion. Mammon and Doll exit, and Face yells to Subtle.
Here, Mammon suggests he and Doll take the stone to a “free state,” to a republic like Venice, where they can freely live a life of wealth and “lust.” Just as Doll, Face, and Subtle suspect, Mammon jumps at the chance to spend time in private with Doll. He even gives Face more money, which they also hoped for. In this way, Mammon’s lust is a double win for Subtle and Face—it gives them an excuse not to give him the stone and it gets them even more money.
Themes
