Timon of Athens story
Timon of Athens (The Life of Tymon of Athens) is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in collaboration with Thomas Middleton in about 1605–1606, which was published in the First Folio in 1623. It is about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon. The central character is a beloved citizen of Athens who through tremendous generosity spends his entire fortune on corrupt hangers-on only interested in getting the next payout.
10 total · 2 choice · 6 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| false friend | choice | a point of the story was that Timon was generous to a fault to people he thought were his friends, yet when he needed help his so-called friends turned their backs on him (note: some may perhaps be better described as fair-weather friends) |
| greed for riches | choice | Timon had many avaricious false friends. They took him for all he had until he was broke. Then when poor Timon found a treasure, they came again to see if they could get more from him. |
| facing financial ruin | major | after he recklessly squandered his wealth, Timon's debtors began closing in and it became apparent that Timon was broke |
| friendship | major | Timon proclaimed friendship with a number of people that later were revealed as nothing of the sort; Timon and Alcibiades |
| generosity | major | Timon was generous to a fault to people he thought were his friends |
| master and servant | major | Timon and Flavius in particular |
| misanthropy | major | Apemantus was a cynic who chided Timon; Timon learned from life and himself became a misanthrope (even naming himself Misanthropos) |
| the desire for vengeance | major | Alcibiades swore vengeance upon Athens; Timon sought revenge on his former false friends |
| flattery | minor | Timon responded generously to outrageous flattery |
| mercy vs. justice | minor | Alcibaides pleaded mercy for one of his officers but the senate maintained that justice must be served, and were notably merciless |