Peregrine Character Analysis in Volpone

Peregrine’s name means “traveler,” and he is another English traveler abroad, a counterpoint to Sir Politic Would-be. Sir Politic offers to help Peregrine learn the ways of Venice and avoid corruption, and Peregrine agrees in order to spend time with Sir Politic (whom he considers to be a ridiculous figure) for his own amusement. When Lady Would-be mistakes Peregrine for a prostitute, Peregrine believes he has fallen for a prank of Sir Politic’s, and he immediately designs his own prank in revenge.

Peregrine Character Timeline in Volpone

The timeline below shows where the character Peregrine appears in Volpone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The English knight Sir Politic Would-Be and Peregrine, another Englishman, enter St Mark’s Place, a public square outside of Corvino’s house. Sir Politic... (full context)

Theatre and Appearance vs Reality Theme Icon

Peregrine says that he does have a passport, and Politic asks him how long he has... (full context)

Peregrine asks Sir Politic his name and jokes, in an aside, that it’s fitting. Sir Politic... (full context)

Peregrine then tells Sir Politic that what he heard about the raven is true. Peregrine also... (full context)

Peregrine tells Sir Politic that the day he left England a whale was discovered in Woolwich.... (full context)

...toothpick (the meat, he explains, was cut into the shapes of letters in a code). Peregrine responds that he heard Stone could not read, but Sir Politic says this was just... (full context)

Peregrine says that he heard that baboons from China were also used as spies, and Sir... (full context)

...observe. He marks trends for his own use and he knows information about government affairs. Peregrine responds that he believes himself very lucky to have met Sir Politic, since Sir Politic... (full context)

...and Nano, both in disguises, enter the square outside Corvino’s home where Sir Politic and Peregrine have been talking. Mosca points to a window, and he and Nano begin setting up... (full context)

Peregrine says that he has heard mountebanks are all talk and no substance and that they... (full context)

...square dressed as a mountebank and followed by a crowd of people. Sir Politic and Peregrine watch as Volpone mounts the stage and launches into a speech, explaining that the crowd... (full context)

Sir Politic asks Peregrine what he thinks of Volpone and his language, to which Peregrine responds he hasn’t heard... (full context)

Peregrine comments on what a waste of time it is to start at such a high... (full context)

Peregrine asks Sir Politic if he would be the first to throw a handkerchief, but from... (full context)

Peregrine asks Sir Politic what he thought about what just happened, and Sir Politic thinks it... (full context)

In the piazza, Sir Politic tells Peregrine that he is ready to give advice for the inexperienced traveler in Venice. He warns... (full context)

Sir Politic continues giving traveler’s advice, saying that Peregrine should avoid talking about religion, and that he needs to learn how to use a... (full context)

...with some of his entrepreneurial pursuits, though he claims he will not reveal them to Peregrine. In an aside, Peregrine says he wishes he had another friend there so he could... (full context)

As Peregrine predicted, Sir Politic starts laying out his ideas for business ventures. His first idea is... (full context)

Peregrine asks what Sir Politic’s other plans are, and Sir Politic says he doesn’t want to... (full context)

Peregrine swears not to steal Sir Politic’s ideas, but Sir Politic cannot find his notes. Peregrine... (full context)

...plan that (if he were traitorous) he could use to sell Venice to the Ottomans. Peregrine points out that Sir Politic is holding a book, but Sir Politic says it’s his... (full context)

A distance away from Sir Politic and Peregrine, Lady Would-be, Nano, and two waiting women enter the piazza. Lady Would-be is looking for... (full context)

One of the waiting women points out Sir Politic, and Lady Would-be assumes that Peregrine is the female prostitute dressed in men’s clothing. Sir Politic sees his wife and tells... (full context)

Lady Would-be then addresses Peregrine, saying that she doesn’t want to publicly flight with another woman, since it is not... (full context)

Sir Politic tries to say that Peregrine is a gentleman, but Lady Would-be cuts him off to yell that she is ashamed... (full context)

Mosca enters the piazza where Lady Would-be has been screaming at Peregrine. Mosca asks Lady Would-be what’s wrong, and she replies that the Venetian government had better... (full context)

Peregrine enters Sir Politic’s house in disguise, along with three Mercatori (merchants). Peregrine makes sure that... (full context)

Peregrine knocks and says he is a merchant here to see Sir Politic. Sir Politic’s servant... (full context)

Peregrine says that he must deliver a worse disaster to Sir Politic. He says that the... (full context)

...situations, and he produces a tortoise shell. He curls up into a ball and has Peregrine lay the shell on top of him, planning to pretend that he’s a tortoise until... (full context)

Peregrine exits and the three merchants rush in. They ask where Sir Politic is hidden, and... (full context)

After Peregrine and the merchants exit, Sir Politic asks a servant where Lady Would-be is and if... (full context)