The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Analysis of Major Characters
*The Two Gentlemen of Verona* is a Shakespearean comedy that explores the complexities of friendship and love through its major characters. Valentine, a witty young gentleman, seeks to elope with Silvia, the Duke of Milan’s daughter, but finds himself betrayed and forced into the wilderness, where he becomes the leader of outlaws. His friend, Proteus, embodies self-centeredness and betrayal, abandoning his love for Julia when he encounters Silvia. Julia, however, demonstrates loyalty and wit as she disguises herself to follow Proteus to Milan, ultimately revealing her identity through her actions.
Silvia’s strong will and dedication to Valentine contrast sharply with Proteus’s fickleness, as she remains steadfast in her affections despite his advances. Other characters, like Speed and Launce, provide comic relief while highlighting the emotional stakes of the main plot. The Duke and other suitors add layers of conflict and intrigue, showcasing themes of love, loyalty, and the social dynamics of the time. Overall, the play offers a rich tapestry of character interactions that ultimately challenge the values of friendship and romantic fidelity.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: William Shakespeare
First published: 1623
Genre: Play
Locale: Italy
Plot: Comedy
Time: Sixteenth century
Valentine (VAL-ehn-tin), a witty young gentleman of Verona. Scoffing at his lovesick friend, Proteus, he goes with his father to Milan, where he enters the court of the duke and promptly falls in love with Silvia, the ruler's daughter. He plans to elope with her but finds his plot betrayed to the duke. He flees to a nearby forest to save his life. There, he joins a band of outlaws and becomes their leader, a sort of Robin Hood. His concept of the superior claims of friendship over love is uncongenial to the modern reader, who finds it hard to forgive him when he calmly bestows Silvia on Proteus, from whose clutches he has just rescued her, to testify to the depth of his renewed friendship for the young man.
Proteus (PROH-tee-uhs), his friend, a self-centered youth who fancies himself a lover in the best Euphuistic tradition. He forgets his strong protestations of undying affection for Julia when he meets Valentine's Silvia in Milan. No loyalties deter him from betraying his friend's planned elopement to the duke, then deceiving the latter by trying to win the girl for himself while he pretends to be furthering the courtship of Sir Thurio. When Silvia resists his advances, he carries her off by force. Stricken with remorse when Valentine interposes to protect her, he promises to reform. The constancy of his cast-off sweetheart, Julia, makes him recognize his faithlessness and her virtue, and they are happily reunited.
Julia, a young noblewoman of Verona. She criticizes her suitors with the humorous detachment of a Portia before she confesses to her maid her fondness for Proteus. She follows him to Milan in the disguise of the page Sebastian, and with dogged devotion she even carries Proteus'messages to her rival, Silvia, to be near him. She reveals her identity almost unwittingly by fainting when Valentine relinquishes Silvia to Proteus as a token of his friendship. She regains the love of her fiancé by this demonstration of her love.
Silvia (SIHL-vee-uh), the daughter of the Duke of Milan. She falls in love with Valentine and encourages his suit. She asks him to copy a love letter for her—directed to himself, although he does not realize this fact at first. Proteus' fickle admiration annoys rather than pleases her, and she stands so firm in her love for Valentine that his generous offer of her to Proteus seems almost intolerable.
Speed, Valentine's exuberant, loquacious servant, cleverer than his master at seeing through Silvia's device of the love letter. He is one of the earliest of the playwright's witty clowns, the predecessor of Touchstone, Feste, and the Fool in King Lear.
Launce (lahns), Proteus' man, a simple soul given to malapropisms and social faux pas, in spite of his excellent intentions. His presentation to Silvia, in Proteus' name, of his treasured mongrel, Crab, a dog “as big as ten” of the creature sent by his master as a gift, does little to further Proteus'courtship. Inspired by his master's gallantry, he pays court to a milkmaid and gives great amusement to Speed by his enumeration of her virtues.
The Duke of Milan, Silvia's father, a strong-willed man who attempts to control his rash impulses. He welcomes and trusts Valentine, although he suspects his love for Silvia, until Proteus reveals the proposed elopement; he then cleverly forces Valentine into a position in which he must reveal his treachery. He finally consents to his daughter's marriage to Valentine as gracefully as possible, but one cannot forget that he is at this time the prisoner of the prospective bridegroom's men.
Sir Thurio (TEW-ree-oh), a vain unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Silvia, who despises him. Although he is willing to follow Proteus' expert instruction in the manners of courtship, he has no desire to risk his life for a woman who cares nothing for him, and he hastily departs when Valentine stands ready to defend his claim to Silvia's hand.
Lucetta (lew-SEHT-uh), a clever, bright young woman who delights in teasing her mistress Julia, for whom she is friend and confidante as well as servant.
Sir Eglamour (EHG-luh-mewr), an elderly courtier. He serves as Silvia's protector when she prepares to flee from her father and marriage to Sir Thurio.
Antonio, Proteus' father, a domineering man convinced that “What I will, I will, and there's an end.”
Panthino (pan-THEE-noh), Antonio's servant, who advises him to send Proteus to join Valentine at the court of the Duke of Milan to learn the gentlemanly skills of “tilts, and tournaments, and sweet discourse.”