Timon of Athens
"Timon of Athens" is the last tragedy created by the British playwright William Shakespeare. It was created around 1607-1608. Timon of Athens tells the story nobility forthright nature, charity, so many people took the opportunity to come to cheat money, and later led to its ruin, "friends" have left him, and finally in despair die alone tragedy.
Creative background
1.Time backgroud
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, Britain was at a time when feudalism was gradually collapsing and capitalism was rising. On the one hand, the old feudal exploitation system still exists. On the other hand, the original accumulation of new capitalism is proceeding violently.
After James I took office, he was more reactionary and decadent than his predecessor, Queen Elizabeth. The people were under the pressure of the two major social forces, the noble and the bourgeoisie. Brutal economic exploitation and political oppression, sparking a hungry peasant uprisings and riots.
At the same time, egoism has penetrated into all areas of social life, and the struggle between the bourgeoisie, the new aristocracy and the royal family has become increasingly open. The serious situation of class struggle has profoundly influenced Shakespeare's creation, and the pulse of the times is beating fiercely on the characters in his script.
2.Creative process
"Timon of Athens" was written about 1607, and the first edition was a folio of 1623. The material in the play comes from three aspects: one is Plutarchus's account of the life of Marcus Antonius, the other is "The Dialogues" by the Greek satire essayist Lucian, and the third is a script written by Anonymous.
Synopsis
The wealthy aristocrat Timon of Athens generously gathered around him a group of flattering "friends". Both the city's small citizens and dignitaries are willing to be his entourage and eaters, waiting for the opportunity to cheat his money. Timon quickly went bankrupt and was heavily in debt. The "friends" who benefited from him immediately broke off with him, but the creditors forced him to repay the debt mercilessly.Timon became increasingly cynical after discovering the ungratefulness and greed of his compatriots.
These people mistakenly thought that Timon was pretending to be poor to test their loyalty, swarming, and greeted Timon with hypocrisy.Timon lifted the lid and splashed the hot water from the dishes on the guests' faces and bodies, scolding them. From then on, Timon left the city that he could no longer bear, hid in a desolate cave, filled with hunger with roots, and lived a wild life.One day he found a pile of gold while digging the roots of the tree. He distributed the gold to beggars, prostitutes and thieves passing by.
In his view, hypocritical "friends" are worse than thieves. He cursed humans and gold viciously, and finally died alone in despair.
Character introduction
The main characters
Timon - Timon of Athens is the title character in Shakespeare's Timon of Athens. Beginning the play as a wealthy man, Timon enjoys giving gifts to his friends and sharing his wealth. He believes that friendship means giving to his friends, without expecting something in return. Timon's servants all await the day when Timon's bounty runs out, for Timon has spent all of his money and more without listening to their reports about the status of his accounts. When creditors show up asking for payment on his debts, Timon finally listens, and discovers that he is bankrupt. He sends servants to his friends to ask for loans, but all come back empty-handed. Convinced all humanity has turned against him, Timon declares his hatred for mankind and takes off for the forest, where, to his dismay, he becomes a sought-after guru-like figure, and he discovers a hidden stash of gold. People constantly want to contact him, though his only discourse consists of curses for flatterers and false friends. Timon ends his days filled with bile at mankind.
Apemantus - Apemantus is not one of Timon's friends, but he attends Timon's feasts anyway, looking for an opportunity to scorn Athenian citizens. He always scoffs at Timon's greetings, promising he will never be polite to Timon's friendly words. While Timon's other friends receive gifts, Timon withholds them from Apemantus until he should choose to be more sociable. Apemantus thinks Timon's friends are all flatterers and false money-grubbers. When Timon's luck changes, and he leaves Athens, Apemantus is delighted, and follows Timon to the wilderness merely to remind him that his villainous friends refused to loan him money. The two insult each other heartily and seem to dislike each other, yet they form a curious bond. Apemantus's poor upbringing makes him used to suffering while Timon is new to it, says Timon. But they are finally in the same boat, hating mankind together. Yet Timon still shoos him away from his forest home.
Alcibiades - Alcibiades is an acquaintance of Timon, apparently a soldier. When one of his friends is sentenced to death by the Senators, Alcibiades protests and is banished. He promises to raise an army and conquer Athens. He encounters Timon in the woods after he has left Athens, and offers to help him after he sacks Athens. Timon enthusiastically supports the idea of destroying Athens, and gives Alcibiades a sum of gold to aid his army. So when Alcibiades stands outside the gates of Athens, he attempts to right both the wrongs done to him and those done to Timon, becoming his final champion after his death.
Flavius - One of Timon's servants, Flavius is terrified to talk to Timon about his finances because Timon refuses to listen to him. Timon has not only run out of money, but he has gone into debt in order to continue giving gifts to his friends, and all his land is mortgaged. Finally Flavius has to confront Timon with the facts. When Timon is unable to procure a loan from his friends, he leaves Athens, and Flavius and his other servants mourn the fall of such a good man, brought down by his own generosity. Flavius shares out his last cash among the remaining servants, and determines to continue to serve Timon, going into the wilderness after him. Upon finding Timon, he offers his last remaining gold and weeps at Timon's downfall. Astonished, Timon declares Flavius is the only honorable man he knew in Athens, the only man who escapes his cursings of mankind, and gives him a sum of gold as a reward.
Appreciation of works
1.Main point
"Timon of Athens" both issued an angry protest against the destruction of the human personality and the power of money reactionary feudal rule, but also on humanistic ideals and sentiments were enthusiastic praise.
Although the distance between the ideal and the reality cannot be bridged, which brings a sad and indignant tone to the script, the power of revealing criticism of the dark reality is still strong.In the fight against the decay of feudalism and the greed of the primitive accumulation of capitalism, naturally it can play a certain role.
2.Artistic features
Shakespeare's works are famous for their vividness and twists in the plot. As far as the clues of plot development are concerned, there are often two or more plot clues in a script. The main clues govern the whole drama, and other clues serve to deepen and enrich the theme of the script. Tragedy "Timon of Athens" also has this feature.
Shakespeare's script breaks the strict boundaries between ancient Greece and Rome's tragedy and comedy. It often inserts the factors of comedy into the tragedy, making the plot lively and lively, and the atmosphere is relaxed, with a strong artistic appeal.
"Timon of Athens" is particularly prominent in this regard. Among them, the distribution of characters, the arrangement of plots, and the use of language all reflect the characteristics of tragic and comedic factors.
Inspirational quotes
The fire i’th' flint
Shows not till it be struck
(Poet, Act 1 Scene 1)
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me.
(Timon, Act 1 Scene 1)
Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner—
Honest water—which ne'er left man i'th’mire.
(Apemantus, Act 1 Scene 2)
Like madness is the glory of this life.
(Apemantus, Act 1 Scene 2)
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
(Apemantus, Act 1 Scene 2)
Their blood is caked, ‘tis cold, it selfdom flows:
'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind.
(Timon, Act 2 Scene 2)
Every man has his fault, and honesty is his.
(Lucullus, Act 3 Scene 1)
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
(First Senator, Act 3 Scene 6)
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find
Th’unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
The gods confound — hear me, you good gods all —
Th’Athenians both within and out that wall,
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low! Amen.
(Timon, Act 4 Scene 1)