Timon of Athens

Roles

• Timon - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

Timon praises his friends

Summary

Timon is a generous wealthy man in Athens who enjoys sharing his wealth with his friends without expecting anything in return. In the first scene of the play a poet, a painter and a jeweler arrive to his house, hoping to sell their goods and services, knowing of his generous nature. He buys from them and then negotiates to pay for the release of a friend who is in jail because of his debts, Ventidius. In the second scene of ACT I, Timon throws a feast in his house and invites all his friends. Apemantus, a friend of Timon's who is always criticizing everybody, mocks him for his foolish generosity. Timon's other friends, on the other hand, flatter him and praise him. When a lord comments that one day it will be his friends' turn to return his generosity Timon tells them that he doesn't expect anything in return. They are repaying him just by being his friends.

Tone

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