The Life of Timon of Athens

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1. Act I.

   Timon's lavish bounty on display: gifts, a dowry, art, and a feast — with Apemantus and the steward looking on.

   1. Scene 1 — --Athens. A Hall in TIMON'S House

      Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant gather to sell their wares and flattery to the generous Timon. He pays a debt to free the imprisoned Ventidius and settles money on his servant Lucilius so the youth may marry above his station. The churlish philosopher Apemantus mocks the fawning crowd.

   2. Scene 2 — -- The Same. A room of state in TIMON'S House.

      At a great banquet Ventidius, now rich, offers to repay Timon, who refuses on principle. Apemantus rails at the guests' false friendship. Cupid presents a masque of Amazons; Timon gives extravagant gifts to all. Aside, his steward Flavius despairs that the coffers are empty.

2. Act II.

   The reckoning: creditors call in their debts and Flavius reveals that Timon is ruined.

   1. Scene 1 — Athens. A Room in a SENATOR'S House.

      A senator, calculating that Timon owes far more than he can pay, sends his servant Caphis to demand immediate repayment before the crash comes.

   2. Scene 2 — The same. A Hall in TIMON'S House.

      Creditors' servants besiege Timon's gate. Flavius at last makes him understand that he is bankrupt and that his lands are mortgaged. Confident his friends will help as he helped them, Timon sends servants to borrow from Lucullus, Lucius, and Sempronius and to the senators, and counts on Ventidius's repayment. A Fool and Apemantus jest with the duns.

3. Act III.

   Every friend refuses; Alcibiades is banished; Timon curses his guests at a mock-feast and quits Athens.

   1. Scene 1 — Athens. A Room in LUCULLUS' House.

      Timon's servant Flaminius asks Lucullus for a loan; Lucullus refuses and tries to bribe the servant to say he was not at home.

   2. Scene 2 — A Public Place.

      Lucius, hearing how shamefully Lucullus refused, loudly declares he never would — then, asked himself, pleads that his money is tied up and refuses too. Strangers marvel at such ingratitude.

   3. Scene 3 — The Same. A Room in SEMPRONIUS' House.

      Sempronius refuses as well, affecting offence that he was asked only after the others.

   4. Scene 4 — A hall in TIMON'S House.

      The creditors' servants crowd Timon's house for payment. Timon rages at them and drives them out, then bids Flavius invite all his false friends to one more feast.

   5. Scene 5 — The Same. The Senate House. The Senate Sitting.

      In the Senate, Alcibiades pleads for the life of a soldier-friend condemned for killing a man in hot blood; the senators refuse and, angered by his pressing, banish Alcibiades, who vows to bring his army against the ungrateful city.

   6. Scene 6 — A room of State in TIMON'S House.

      At the promised feast the covered dishes hold only warm water and stones. Timon mocks his guests with a bitter grace, pelts them with the stones and water, and drives them out, abandoning Athens.

4. Act IV.

   Timon curses Athens and turns misanthrope in the woods, where he digs up gold; the faithful steward seeks him out.

   1. Scene 1 — Without the walls of Athens

      Outside the walls Timon delivers a sweeping curse on Athens — wishing every bond of society into chaos — and departs for the wilderness.

   2. Scene 2 — Athens. A Room in TIMON's House.

      Flavius and the dismissed servants lament their master's fall and part; Flavius resolves to find Timon and serve him still, the play's one faithful man.

   3. Scene 3 — Woods and Caves near the Sea-shore.

      Digging for roots, Timon uncovers buried gold and, despising it, uses it only to do harm: he gives it to Alcibiades and his mistresses Phrynia and Timandra to ruin Athens (cursing the women to spread disease there), and to a band of thieves whom he urges to rob the equally thievish world. Apemantus visits and the two trade savage insults over which of them is the truer hater of mankind. Last comes Flavius; Timon weeps at the one honest man, gives him gold, and bids him live far from all others.

5. Act V.

   Petitioners come to the cave in vain; Timon dies by the sea as Alcibiades brings Athens to terms.

   1. Scene 1 — The woods. Before TIMON's Cave.

      The Poet and Painter come to the cave, hoping the rumour of gold is true; Timon overhears their hypocrisy and drives them off. Two senators beg him to return and lead Athens against Alcibiades; Timon refuses, mockingly offers them a tree on which to hang themselves, and tells them he will soon be dead.

   2. Scene 2 — Before the walls of Athens.

      In Athens the senators learn that Alcibiades is near with his army, and that Timon will not help them.

   3. Scene 3 — The Woods. TIMON's cave, and a rude tomb seen.

      A soldier of Alcibiades finds Timon's tomb by the sea and, unable to read the epitaph, takes an impression of it in wax to carry to his general.

   4. Scene 4 — Before the walls of Athens

      Alcibiades brings his army before Athens; the senators sue for peace, and he agrees to spare the city and punish only his and Timon's enemies. The soldier brings Timon's epitaph, which Alcibiades reads aloud — a last curse on mankind from beyond the grave — before making peace.

Characters

• Timon protagonist

  A wealthy, open-handed lord of Athens who ruins himself with lavish gifts, banquets, and bailing out of friends, trusting that his generosity has bought him love. When his money runs out and every flattering friend refuses to help, his faith in mankind collapses into furious misanthropy. He curses Athens, exiles himself to a cave by the sea, digs up gold he no longer wants, rains it on thieves and enemies of the city, and dies alone — his epitaph cursing all who pass. The role is a study in the swing from boundless bounty to total hatred of humankind.

• Apemantus major

  A churlish philosopher of the Cynic school who despises mankind on principle and mocks Timon's flatterers from the very first feast. When the ruined Timon turns misanthrope, Apemantus visits his cave and the two trade savage insults — Apemantus arguing that Timon's hatred is mere disappointed appetite, not true philosophy. He embodies professional, chosen cynicism against Timon's wounded idealism.

• Flavius major

  Timon's honest steward, who keeps the accounts and tries in vain to warn his master that the lavish giving has emptied the coffers. He weeps at Timon's fall, shares what little he has with the dismissed servants, and seeks Timon out in the wilderness to offer his own savings — proving, against the play's bitter thesis, that one faithful man exists.

• Alcibiades major

  An Athenian captain and friend of Timon. When the Senate condemns a soldier of his and banishes Alcibiades for pleading too hotly on the man's behalf, he raises an army and marches on ungrateful Athens in revenge — a public mirror of Timon's private wrath. Accompanied by his mistresses Phrynia and Timandra, he meets the misanthrope Timon, who funds his war with found gold, and finally enters Athens to impose a tempered, merciful justice.

• Poet supporting

  A poet who flatters Timon for patronage, presenting a verse-fable that (ironically) describes Fortune dropping a favourite once he falls. He and the Painter return to Timon's cave near the end, hoping the rumour of his new-found gold is true, and are driven off.

• Painter supporting

  A painter who, with the Poet, offers his work to Timon for reward and later schemes to win the misanthrope's gold with promised flattery. Timon overhears their hypocrisy and beats them off.

• Lucullus minor

  One of the flattering lords who feasted at Timon's table. When Timon's servant Flaminius comes to borrow money, Lucullus pretends to advise thrift and tries to bribe the servant to say he was not found in — the first of the friends to refuse.

• Lucius minor

  A flattering lord who, hearing that Lucullus has denied Timon, loudly protests he would never be so ungrateful — and then, asked for a loan himself, refuses on the excuse that his money is all tied up. (Distinct from his own serving-man, who appears as 'Lucius' Servant'.)

• Sempronius minor

  Another lord who refuses Timon a loan — taking offence that he was asked only after the others, and using the slight as his excuse to deny help.

• Ventidius minor

  A friend whom Timon ransomed out of debtors' prison by paying his debts; when his own father dies and leaves him rich, he does not repay the kindness, and when Timon falls he too refuses help — the sharpest instance of ingratitude.

• First Lord minor

  One of the lords who flatter and feast with Timon in his prosperity.

• Second Lord minor

  A second flattering lord at Timon's feasts.

• Third Lord minor

  A third lord among Timon's guests.

• Fourth Lord minor

  A fourth lord at Timon's table.

• Jeweller minor

  A jeweller who sells Timon a costly jewel in the opening scene of conspicuous spending.

• Merchant minor

  A merchant who, with the Jeweller, Poet, and Painter, gathers in Timon's hall to profit from his open purse.

• Flaminius minor

  One of Timon's serving-men, sent to borrow money from Lucullus; he indignantly throws back the bribe Lucullus offers him.

• Servilius minor

  A serving-man of Timon, sent among the false friends to ask for loans and turned away.

• Lucilius minor

  A serving-man of Timon in love with the daughter of an Old Athenian; Timon generously matches the old man's dowry so the two may marry. (A distinct person from the lord Lucius and the lord Lucullus.)

• Old Athenian minor

  An old citizen who complains that Timon's servant Lucilius is courting his daughter above his station; Timon settles wealth on Lucilius so the match can go forward.

• Caphis minor

  A servant sent by a senator (one of Timon's creditors) to demand repayment, joining the crowd of duns who besiege Timon's door.

• Titus minor

  A serving-man of one of Timon's creditors, among those who press Timon for money. (Unrelated to the Roman of Titus Andronicus; here simply a dunning servant.)

• Hortensius minor

  A serving-man of a creditor, sent to collect a debt from the ruined Timon and uneasy at the errand.

• Philotus minor

  Another creditor's serving-man in the crowd of duns waiting on Timon for payment.

• Lucius' Servant minor

  The serving-man of the lord Lucius, sent to demand repayment from Timon — ashamed that his master, who lately professed such love, now duns the man who enriched him.

• Varro's Servant minor

  A serving-man of the creditor Varro, among those demanding payment of Timon's debts.

• Isidore's Servant minor

  A serving-man of the creditor Isidore, sent to dun Timon for repayment.

• First Varro's Servant minor

  One of two servants of Varro who join the creditors' men besieging Timon's gate.

• Second Varro's Servant minor

  The second of Varro's two servants among the duns at Timon's door.

• Servant minor

  An unnamed serving-man (of Timon's or a creditor's household) carrying messages and demands.

• First Servant minor

  One of the serving-men, of Timon's household or a creditor's.

• Second Servant minor

  A second unnamed serving-man.

• Third Servant minor

  A third unnamed serving-man.

• First Senator minor

  A senator of Athens. The senators are Timon's creditors who call in his debts, condemn Alcibiades's soldier and banish Alcibiades, and finally sue for terms when he besieges the city.

• Second Senator minor

  A second senator of Athens among Timon's creditors and Alcibiades's judges.

• Third Senator minor

  A third senator of Athens.

• Senator minor

  A senator of Athens (the generic prefix used where only one speaks), reckoning up the debts Timon owes him.

• First Stranger minor

  One of several strangers who, watching Lucius refuse Timon, comment on the ingratitude of Athens — the play's choric outsiders. (Also called Hostilius in some editions.)

• Second Stranger minor

  A second stranger commenting on the friends' ingratitude to Timon.

• Third Stranger minor

  A third stranger among the choric observers.

• First Bandit minor

  One of a band of thieves who, hearing Timon has found gold, come to rob him; he gives them gold and urges them to go and rob the equally thievish city.

• Second Bandit minor

  A second of the thieves who visit Timon's cave for his gold.

• Third Bandit minor

  A third of the thieves, struck despite himself by Timon's bitter logic.

• Fool minor

  A fool attending a courtesan's mistress, who trades quips with Apemantus and the creditors' servants in a brief comic scene.

• Page minor

  A page carrying letters, who appears with the Fool among the duns.

• Messenger minor

  A messenger bringing news — of Alcibiades's approach and of the senators' moves.

• Soldier minor

  A soldier of Alcibiades who discovers Timon's grave by the sea and takes an impression of the cursing epitaph to carry to his captain.

• Cupid minor

  Cupid presents the masque of Amazons that entertains Timon's banquet guests (1.2), praising his bounty.

• First Lady minor

  One of the masquing ladies (dressed as Amazons) at Timon's feast.

• Phrynia minor

  One of Alcibiades's two mistresses (named for a famous Athenian courtesan). When the pair come upon Timon in the wilderness, he gives them gold with a savage prayer that they spread disease through Athens.

• Timandra minor

  The second of Alcibiades's mistresses (a name drawn from Plutarch), cursed by Timon along with Phrynia when he flings them gold in the woods.

• All ensemble

  Several characters speaking together.

• Both ensemble

  Two characters speaking together (variously the Poet and Painter, two lords, or two servants).

• All the Lords ensemble

  Timon's guest-lords answering together.

• All the Ladies ensemble

  The masquing ladies (Amazons) answering together at the feast.

• All the Servants ensemble

  Timon's dismissed serving-men lamenting together as the household breaks up.

• Banditti ensemble

  The band of thieves answering together at Timon's cave.

• Phrynia and Timandra ensemble

  Alcibiades's two mistresses answering Timon together, holding out their aprons for his gold (4.3).

• Both Varro's Servants ensemble

  Varro's two serving-men speaking together among the creditors' duns.

• A Lord (speaking out) ensemble

  One of the guests crying out at Timon's mock-banquet — 'What does his lordship mean?' (3.6).

• Another Lord ensemble

  Another guest answering at the mock-banquet — 'I know not' (3.6).

Cross-references

• Folger Shakespeare
• MIT plain text
• Wikipedia