The Two Gentlemen of Verona

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a classic comedy by William Shakespeare that is usually considered to be one of the earliest in his career. It has the smallest cast of any of Shakespeare's plays and features the first instance in his writing of a heroine that dresses as a boy - something that would be repeated in many of his other works.

Fast Facts

1. Writer: William Shakespeare
2. Written: between 1587 and 1594
3. Setting: Verona, Milan, and the frontiers of Mantua, Italy
4. Premiere Date: 1762 at Drury Lane
5. ISBN 1903436958
6. Believed to be Shakespeare's first play
7. Primary source: Diana Enamorada by Jorge de Montemayor
8. First Folio: 1623
9. One of the least performed of Shakespeare's plays

Characters

• Valentine and Proteus: the two Gentlemen
• Julia: beloved of Proteus.
• Silvia: beloved of Valentine.
• Antonio: Father to Proteus.
• Speed: a clownish Servant to Valentine.
• Launce: a clownish Servant to Proteus.
• Panthino: Servant to Antonio.
• Thurio: a foolish rival to Valentine.
• Eglamour: Agent for Silvia, in her escape.

Synopsis

The play begins with two friends, Valentine and Proteus, traveling from Verona to Milan to serve in the Duke of Milan's court. In Milan, Valentine falls in love with Silvia, the Duke of Milan's daughter, who isbetrothed to the wealthy courtier Thurio. Valentine and Silvia decide to elope. Valentine reveals his plans to Proteus who has also fallen in love with Silvia. Proteus decides to tell the Duke who immediately banishes Valentine from Milan. Proteus promises to act as an intermediary between Valentine and Silvia. Instead, seeking to gain the favor of Silvia, Proteus begins to defame Valentine. While this fails to earn Silvia's love, it does win the Duke's favor. Meanwhile, Valentine meets and becomes the leader of a group of criminals who live in a nearby forest. Julia, Proteus' original love in Verona, arrives in Milan disguised as a young male page on a mission to find her love. Proteus unknowingly utilizes the disguised Julia in his failing endeavor to court Silvia. Silvia, still yearning for Valentine, flees Milan only to be taken hostage by Valentine's gang.

The Duke of Milan sends Thurio and Proteus to rescue Silvia. Proteus gets to Silvia before she can discover that the gang's leader is Valentine, who hides while Proteus declares his devotion for Silvia. Valentine reveals himself and Proteus apologizes for what he has said and done to Valentine. The two make peace and Valentine even offers Silvia to Proteus. The disguised Julia faints at this and Proteus, now realizing Julia has known all along, rediscovers his love for Julia. The Duke of Milan and Thurio are led in as prisoners of Valentine's gang and Thurio drops his resolve to marry Silvia when challenged to a duel with Valentine. The Duke, unimpressed with Thurio's cowardice, grants Silvia the right to marry Valentine and pardons Valentine's band of criminals of their crimes.

Famous Quotes

• "Who is Silvia? what is she,That all our swains commend her?"

• "I have no other but a woman's reason: I think him so, because I think him so."

• "That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man, If with his tongue he cannot win a woman"

• "A man I am, cross'd with adversity."

• "Is she not passing fair?"

• "O heaven! were man but constant, he were perfect."

• "Come not within the measure of my wrath."

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