The Devil is an Ass is a satirical play by Ben Jonson, first performed in 1616. The play follows Pug, a minor devil from Hell, who is sent to Earth to corrupt humans but quickly finds himself outmatched by their own greed and cunning. Instead of leading people astray, Pug becomes entangled in the schemes of corrupt Londoners, particularly Fitzdottrel, a foolish man obsessed with wealth and status. Through sharp wit and social criticism, Jonson mocks human folly, ambition, and the deceitful nature of city life. The play highlights how, in a world driven by greed and trickery, even the Devil himself is an amateur at corruption.