Timon of Athens - William Shakespeare

...Everyone of them have brought Timon an object that they hope Timon will purchase. Timon enters the room, with many people gathering around him looking for his advice or approval. One of these people is a person who has been sent from Timon's friend Ventidius to give Timon a message. When Timon learns that Ventidius has been imprisoned due to him not paying a creditor, Timon takes the debt on himself and pays it in full. Timon is a man of respect ...
...what kind of a man Timon is and it is clear that he puts others before himself. Timon is a legendary Athenian misanthrope.

Timon Of Athens is a complicated and complex literary work. There are areas of the play that seem a little disorganised, but nonetheless the play should not be dismissed on face value as there is a lot more that is going on behind the surface. Although it is classified as a tragedy there are some scholars who consider ... more

One of my favourite writers of all time is the legendary William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is probably one of the most noted writers in the history of English Literature. Certainly he is the most significant playwright of the English Renaissance. He has contributed many great literary works and one of these is called, "Timon Of Athens". "Timon Of Athens" is set in ancient Greece. The first act occurs in Timon's residential home. In the reception room of Timon's house a poet, a painter, a jeweller, and a merchant enter. Everyone of them have brought Timon an object that they hope Timon will purchase. Timon enters the room, with many people gathering around him looking for his advice or approval. One of these people is a person who has been sent from Timon's friend Ventidius to give Timon a message. When Timon learns that Ventidius has been imprisoned due to him not paying a creditor, Timon takes the debt on himself and pays it in full. Timon is a man of respect who cares deeply for his friends and the world around him sadly it is to his own peril. In the introduction we can see what kind of a man Timon is and it is clear that he puts others before himself. Timon is a legendary Athenian misanthrope.

Timon Of Athens is a complicated and complex literary work. There are areas of the play that seem a little disorganised, but nonetheless the play should not be dismissed on face value as there is a lot more that is going on behind the surface. Although it is classified as a tragedy there are some scholars who consider it a problem comedy. The play has caused many discussions and is strangely composed with many gaps. Many consider this work to be incomplete, with many authors, and/or experimental. There is no definite date that can be provided for this play, but many people have suggested it could be linked with late romances. During Shakespeare's lifespan the performance history is not known. Although there is a lot that remains uncertain about this play there is a definite story and character pattern. Timon for example is a man who gives away large amounts of money and because of this people want to impress him to receive more.

It is clear to see what type of character Timon is from the start he is someone that people take advantage of. The only man whom doesn't take advantage of Timon and refuses his money is a philosopher named Apemantus.

Timon gratefully receives the art from Poet and Painter, and a jewel from the Jeweller, but as is typical of Timon's character by the end of the act he has given them away to a friend of his. An Old Athenian is mad that Timon's servant, Lucilius, has been trying to seduce his daughter, but Timon gives the servant three talents because the servants happiness is worth the cost. Timon seems to value spiritual possessions much more than material possessions.

In one part of the play during a party Timon speaks about the importance of friendship and then proceeds to give his horses away and other gifts to friends. When Timon's money finally runs out due to him carelessly giving it away he looks to his friends for help. His friends deny Timon any money and a poverty stricken Timon leaves Athens going into the wilderness where he finds a hidden cache of gold. Timon who cannot find a use for the money returns to Athens where he plans his revenge.

Timon is the one character who transforms the most throughout this play. The old Timon would have shared his riches equally not worrying about if his friends were grateful, but because of the unfortunate turn of events when Timon needed help from his friends he no longer plays the nice guy. This is a typical real life event that most of us will experience at some time in our lives. The turning point of our lives when we say that we don't want to be used any more. In this sense I can really relate to the character of Timon and how he must feel. It is a very lifelike play that makes you think about your own life.

Timon worries about pleasing his friends lavishing expensive gifts on them and holding acquisitive parties and lending them money. Yet it is deeply sad when we see his friends one by one turn away when he needs them the most. People have come to know that if they ask Timon for something he will give it and more besides. They start taking Timon's friendship for granted and they do not value it. People know that if they give gifts to Timon then he will return the gift twice over. They are lavishing gifts on Timon only to receive many more in return. Many people line up to please Timon from painters to jewellery makers yet none of them are true friends. Timon feels important and valued by the friends around him yet his eyes are blinded and he cannot see that his friends are abusing his friendship. When a cynical philosopher named Apemantus, tells Timon to be careful around his friends who seem like users who only want his money. Apemantus says, he will bankrupt himself: "Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?" (1. 2. 214).

Timon doesn't realise that Apemantus wants to help him. That really Apemantus is the only true friend he has got. Timon should have listened but, he didn't and made his own mistakes which unfortunately he paid the price for both materially and spiritually. I enjoy the lengthy prose conversations between Timon and the philosopher Apemantus, a difficult character whose bubbling anger is kept in order throughout. All Timons wants is to be around his friends and ensure that they are happy. Timons does not realise that his friends are abusing him, but that is part of the satire. When the Senate decides that Timon should be killed for not keeping up with his debts it is a cruel twist of fate. Whenever Timon's friends wanted something he would provide it but, when Timon was in need his friends would not provide for him. Meanwhile a captain of Athens does fight to get Timon's death sentence overturned albeit unsuccessfully. This is when Timon runs and heads for the woods.

The setting of the play is Athens, the walls outside the city, and the city's neighbouring woods. Separate scenes are carried out in rooms of Timon's house, a senator's house, Lucullus's house, Sempronius's house, a public place, the Senate house, the environs outside the city, and Timon's cave and the surrounding woods, near the seashore.

Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens" might be a bi sketchy and stiff for a medieval play, but it is nonetheless a work written by Shakespeare. Although it might not be one of Shakespeare's best plays it is still an important part of Shakespearean history. "Timon" has a clever mix of historical evidence with a deep emotional atmosphere. There is a lot to learn from the play and it is definitely one to read or watch if you get the chance.

Often when you talk of Shakespeare people think of the more popular favourable plays and don't remember the older or less known plays. Timon Of Athens is one of the less well known Shakespeare plays. It is still a valuable addition and if you like Shakespeare then you would benefit greatly from reading this. The settings have the scope to allow a director to experiment with mood and senses. A director could use different lighting effects to portray the mood. Experimental scope is definitely something this play has to offer.

There is a bizarre combination of true life feelings greed, pride and vanity. We see throughout the play a mixture of strong feelings and emotions. Timon of Athens is a good balance of eccentricity and carefully crafted literacy that takes on sudden depths of tragic satire and dreadful insults. The play takes you on a journey and is deeply moving. 

...less