Summary:
Explores the transition of the character Timon, from Shakespeare's Timon of Athens, from a generous man to a needy man. Includes an examination of key passages from the play.
Timon of Athens, a play by William Shakespeare, tells how a gentleman's generosity is taken advantage of. Timon, a noble Athenian, is very wealthy. He is very charitable towards his fellow Athenians. He loans his money to those in need with no questions. Yet, most of Timon's "friends" are takers. They are willing to obtain all of Timon's money but return nothing. They care much more about Timon's prosperity, and their own, than his well-being. In Timon of Athens, Timon transitions from a state of giving to a state of needing.
In the beginning of the play, Timon is greatly respected and very altruistic. People of many different occupations come from all over Athens to visit Timon. The Athenian painter, poet, and jeweler come with their arts to Timon's house. Of course, almost everyone who comes to visit Timon wants something. Timon is so generous, he nonchalantly gives away anything. On one occasion, an Old Athenian comes to ask Timon to refuse the nuptial of Timon's servant, Lucilius, to the Athenian's daughter. Timon exclaims, "This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long. To build his fortune I will strain a little, [f]or 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter. What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise, [a]nd make him weigh her." (1.1) Timon offers to pay the Athenian an amount equal to what he feels he has given: his daughter. On another occasion, Timon bails Ventidius, a false friend, out of jail with his own money. Timon doesn't expect his generosity to be returned. When conversing with two true friends, Alcibiades, an Athenian general, and Apamantus, a rude, churlish philosopher, Timon says, "O you gods, think I, what need we have any friends it we should ne'er have need of 'em? [T]hey were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for 'em; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sound to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you." Unfortunately, Timon's wish comes true.
"And late, five thousand;-to Varro, and to Isidore [h]e owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, [w]hich makes it five-and-twenty," a senator reads from his documents. (2.1) Timon is in earnest need of money in order to pay off debts after being so generous with his treasures. Timon has entered into a state of needing. He requests money from all of those whom he once loaned something to before. They all reply "no" with pathetic excuses. Sempronius, a lord and previous flatterer of Timon exclaims, "Must he needs trouble me in't, hum! He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus; [a]nd now Ventidius is wealthy too, [w]hom he redeem'd from prison: all these [o]we their estates unto him." (3.1) Another "sponger", a person who soaks up everything, Lucius, refuses to lend the impoverished Timon money because he believes that he will become the laughing stock of Athens.
Timon becomes angry with his predicament. He throws a feast for his enemies in a magnificent room. Before everyone begins to dine, Timon says a prayer, a dark prayer. Timon prays, "You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods." (3.6) Timon then uncovers the dishes, which are filled with warm water and stones. He pummels his ungrateful, greedy guests with the stones and water and curses them. "Your reeking villany. Live loath'd and long, [m]ost smiling, smooth, detested parasites, [c]orteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, [y]ou fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time flies, [c]ap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!" (3.4) Timon leaves the city of his enemies, Athens, forever.
Timon isolates himself from the city and its citizens. He has no other choice but to disappear into the woods outside of Athens because, if he stays in the city, those he so generously lent money to would kill him. Timon makes a haven in a cave. As he is digging for roots to eat, he ironically discovers the yellow slave, gold. Timon still has a great sense of generosity although he is in a great state of needing. People still driven by greed come to Timon. He aggravatingly gives portions of his gold to thieves, the Athenian artisans, and the Athenian general. He quotes to the painter and the poet, "Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, [r]id me these villains from your companies: Hang them or stab them in a draught, [c]onfound them by some course, and come to me, I'll give you gold enough." (5.1) Timon tells the painter and the poet, that he will give them plenty of gold if they rid his small haven of the conniving thieves, and themselves. Timon is in a serious need for a true friend, yet everyone that finds his cave and his gold comes, not to comfort him, but to sponge up what little Timon has.
"Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: [s]eek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: [p]ass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gait." (5.4) Timon lives a life of riches and dies a poor man's death. When he is in need, none of his "friends", Timon's newfound enemies, help him. Yet, Timon is in need because he pacified the needs of other people, selfish, ungrateful people. Timon dies a needing man, a man in need of a true friend.
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