Timon of Athens (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: William Shakespeare
- First Published: 1623
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: Fourth century
- Setting: Athens and the nearby seacoast
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: Friendship, Idealism, Wealth, Greek or Roman times, Greece or Greek people, Hatred
- Locales: Athens, ancient, Greece, ancient
Characters Discussed
Timon (TI-muhn), a noble Athenian who impoverishes himself through his unceasing generosity to his friends. He lavishes gifts on them, offers help when they find themselves in trouble, and entertains them at extravagant feasts, paying no attention to the warnings of his steward that his fortune is dwindling. Refused at every door when he himself needs assistance, he is so completely disillusioned with human ingratitude that he becomes a misanthrope and flees to the woods to escape humanity. Before his departure, he invites his acquaintances to a final...
[The entire page is 818 words long]
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