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| Neb English Support Class 12 |
Timon of Athens | Play by William Shakespeare | Neb English Support Class 12
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
SHORT STORYLINE
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Wealthy and famous Timon gets into great debt, gets insane when no one wants to cover him, and finally pays someone in the woods to destroy Athens.
SHORT SUMMARY
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Rich and popular, Timon of Athens helps his friends, gives away many gifts, and holds a feast. Ignoring the warnings of his true friends, Timon runs out of money and gets into huge debt. None of his "friends" will help him. He escapes to a cave, where he curses humanity, finds gold, funds someone to destroy Athens, and finally dies.
DETAILED SUMMARY
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Act I
Lord Timon, a popular and wealthy philanthropist in Athens, entertains a poet, a painter, a jeweller, a merchant, and some enators. Timon greets each of them with his best. He offers to pay the debt of one of his friends, Ventidius, who is in debtor's prison. He even negotiates and pays for the marriage of his servant, who has expressed his desire to marry above his station. Apemantus, a friend, warns Timon against those who flatter him, but Timon doesn't listen to his words. He ignores his advice. When he throws a feast for a general named Alcibiades, he invites everyone to eat with him at the feast.
At the banquet, Apemantus once again criticises Timon but still joins the guests. Everyone is entertained by a mask play, with Amazon dancers attending Timon's hospitality. Timon's devoted steward, Flavius, even tries to warn his master that his wealth is rapidly dwindling, but Timon ignores him.
Act II
It is only when Flavius is unable to pay some creditors that Timon is shocked. After asking Flavius why he never told him (he did) and debating some ways to get out of his debts, he learns that his finances are completely in ruins. He sends his servants to ask for money from his former friends, who flatter him greatly, but everyone rejects him. Creditors constantly badmouth him when making payments.
Act III
In response, Timon manages another feast and gathers everyone for it. Apemantus, Timon's friend, advises the Senators not to condemn Timon for his unpaid debts. However, instead of freeing Timon, Apemantus only succeeds in obtaining exile. Timon harshly criticises his guests and provides them with a meal of stones and water, which Timon throws in the faces of his former flattering friends. Timon leaves Athens, bitterly cursing the city and its people. He pledges his hatred towards them all, condemning them for neglecting his former kindness.
Act IV
Flavius, loyal as ever, now takes leave of his fellow servants to seek Timon. Meanwhile, Timon is in the woods and on the verge of insanity, digging for edible roots near a deserted cave. Instead of finding roots, he discovers buried gold and hides it. Later, General Timon hosts a feast for Alcibiades, seeks him out, and offers friendship. Alcibiades was banished from the city of Athens after one of his servants killed a man in a fit of passion. After Timon initially turns him down, Timon discovers Alcibiades' plot to destroy Athens. He provides most of the gold to Alcibiades to further his violent aims.
Later, Timon visits other old acquaintances. The exiled Apemantus visits Timon and criticises his hatred of his false Athenian friends. Together, the two men say harsh words against the love of the world and its riches.
Act V
Finally, Flavius finds his former master, and Timon praises him as the only honest man he has ever known in his life. Timon provides him with gold as a reward for his loyalty. After hearing of the buried gold, the poet and the painter arrive at Timon's cave, but Timon realises their greedy intentions and banishes them.
Two senators, led by Flavius, try to convince Timon to return to Athens to prevent Alcibiades' impending attack, but they are also rejected. Soon after, one of Alcibiades's soldiers discovers the gravestone of Timor. Alcibiades decides on an arrangement with the Senators and promises to spare everyone except Timon's opponents. When he gets the news of Timon's death, he enters the city, declaring peace and honouring Timon.
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