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Shakespeare
PLAY SYNOPSIS - TIMON OF ATHENS
A Satiric Comedy
At Timon's house in Athens, a poet, painter and jeweller compare the gifts each plans to give to Lord Timon. He appears and a messenger informs him Noble Ventidius is in need of money. Without hesitation, Timon promises it to him. Then, an Old Athenian appears and complains that Timon's servant Lucilius is wrongly courting his daughter. Timon convinces the man to let Lucilius marry his daughter, provided Timon
gives Lucilius sufficient money to support the marriage. Next, Apemantus, a "churlish philosopher" enters and all enjoy trading insults with him. Timon holds a great feast and all attend and eat
a great deal while Timon, who is simply content to be surround by "his friends", eats little. After supper, all dance with women and Timon showers jewels upon everybody. Timon's steward Flavius complains that Timon is too generous and already he begins to
get into debt. Apemantus echoes this feeling in private.
At a senator's house he tells his servant Caphis to go to Timon and demand he repay his debts to the Senator. We learn the senator fears Timon will soon be unable to repay his
debts and so he wants the money now. Caphis arrives at Timon's house and demands the money; Varro's and Isidore's servants also arrive demanding their master's money. Timon promises Flavius will pay
them but Flavius finally convinces Timon that he is beyond broke and is in fact deep in debt. Timon sends Flaminus and Servilius to ask for loans from Lucius, Lucullus and Sempronius, then asks Flavius to visit the senators. However, Flavius explains he has already seen the
senators and they have all denied him money. Timon, although growing fearful continues to believe that his "friends" will help him since he has always helped them in the past, particularly Ventidius.
Flaminus comes to Lucullus asking for 50 talents, but is quickly denied any money. Lucullus actually (falsely) claims to have told Timon to behave less lavishly in the past. A servant of Lucius' relays this event to
him and Lucius vows to help Timon. But when Servilius appears to Lucius and asks for 5500 talents, Lucius quickly goes back on his word and claims (falsely) that he himself is nearly broke. Another servant approaches Sempronius for money. He asks about Lucius', Lucullus' and Ventidius' gifts and is told all have refused Timon money. Sempronius refuses
also, claiming he is insulted that he is the last one to be asked for money and was not approached first. At Timon's house, all of Timon's
"friends' " servants are there to demand Timon repay his debts. Flavius tries to explain they are beyond being
broke but the servants will not listen. Timon scares them all off in a fit of
rage then declares he will hold one last feast for all the "knaves". At the Senate
house the senators decide Timon should die for his debts. The captain Alcibiades valiantly
pleads for Timon's life but is ignored by the senators. Eventually, they tire of his pleadings and banish him from Athens, effective two days hence. Alcibiades decides privately to muster his armies and attack Athens. At Timon's
house he holds his final banquet. He ends up serving the lords pots of warm water and throws it in their faces causing them to flee. The lords report to the senators that Timon has gone mad.
In a mad speech of rage, Timon vows to flee to the woods and quickly grow to hate mankind. Remaining in his house, Timon's servants gather and Flavius gives them some
money then departs in search of Timon. At Timon's cave in the woods, he rails against mankind then, while searching for food (roots), he finds buried gold, placed there by the Gods for Timon. Alcibiades, on his way to Athens, comes across Timon.
Having no need for gold he gives what he has to Alcibiades, but chides him still, simply because he is a man. Next, Apemantus appears and decides he likes Timon now since he hates mankind. Timon instructs him to tell the nobles of Athens he has new-found gold. Apemantus leaves and three thieves/bandits appear and ask for some of his gold. However, seeing Timon in his misery causes the thieves to let him be and leave. Next, Flavius appears while searching for Timon and finds Timon as he grows sicker. Timon soon declares Flavius to be the one honest man left in the world. Yet, Timon sends Flavius away and retreats into his cave.
The poet and the painter then appear having heard rumours of Timon's gold. Initially Timon leads them on by claiming they are honest
men, then he chases them off in a rage. Lastly, Flavius appears with two senators from Athens who tell Timon
that in return for his money he may return to Athens forgiven and help fight off Alcibiades. Timon pretends to
agree then shuns them all and tells them he hopes Alcibiades sacks Athens. Later, a soldier comes across Timon's cave and finds he is
dead leaving his own epitaph, which he brings to Alcibiades. At Athens, Alcibiades overtakes the city and the senators make payment to him to keep him from sacking Athens. He agrees to only seek reparations from Timon's "friends". He then reads Timon's epitaph and asks all to remember him.
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