Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Timon of Athens (Theatre)

 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
type
TVTItem
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
label
Timon of Athens (Theatre)
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
page
TimonOfAthens
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
comment
As the play is Older Than Steam and most twists in Shakespeare's plots are now widely known, all spoilers on this page are unmarked.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })One of William Shakespeare's more obscure and difficult plays, Timon of Athens is about an overly generous man who becomes a misanthropic hermit after going bankrupt and being cast off by his friends. It is believed to be a collaborative work, with most critics pointing to Thomas Middleton as the co-writer. It has been called Shakespeare's "least loved play." The play is inspired by an episode mentioned in Plutarch's Parallel Lives (precisely Life of Antony) as well as the satire Timon the Misanthrope by Lucian of Samosata.Timon is an extremely, almost overly, generous Athenian lord. He surrounds himself with flattering cronies, rewarding their flattery with lavish gifts. He holds a massive feast and invites all his friends, many of whom he helped with personal problems by throwing money at them. The only one in attendance who doesn't suck up to Timon is Apemantus, who's only there to snark at him and his flatterers.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Timon's steward Flavius tells Timon he's deep in debt, and can't even sell his lands to recover. Timon sends servants to three of his closest friends, but one by one they shoot him down. Timon is heartbroken, but decides to throw them another feast. At the feast, Timon gives his former friends an elaborate "fuck you", serves them a "soup" which is really just warm water, and chases them all out of his house with stones.Timon is exiled from Athens and goes to live in a cave outside its walls, where he spends most of his time wishing plagues and disaster onto the city. While digging for roots, he finds gold coins. Alcibiades, another exiled lord, runs into Timon and confides he's going to sack and ruin Athens. Timon encourages him to ravish the entire city, and gives him gold to fuel the campaign; Alcibiades is reluctant to be so vicious, but says he'll avenge both of them.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_3'); })Timon's old friends hear that he's suddenly wealthy again, and go to him, hoping to enjoy his generosity, but they then met with disdain and vicious insults. Apemantus shows up as well, to deliver an "I told you so," and the two have a comical battle of wits before Timon chases him away with stones. The only person Timon doesn't hate, it seems, is his old servant Flavius, who visits him but doesn't ask for any money; Timon gives him the rest of his gold, and instructs him never to be generous to anyone.Alcibiades attacks Athens, but the senators convince him not to attack. Alcibiades agrees, and receives word that Timon is dead. He reads the epitaph Timon had composed for himself, and muses on how great Timon was and how far he fell.Not to be confused with that Timon.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
fetched
2023-03-03T14:59:26Z
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
parsed
2023-03-03T14:59:26Z
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_11a74598
type
Became Their Own Antithesis
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_11a74598
comment
Became Their Own Antithesis: Timon's journey from generous lover of humanity to raging misanthrope makes up the main arc of the play.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_11a74598
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_11a74598
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_11a74598
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_15b2cab3
type
Tempting Fate
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_15b2cab3
comment
Tempting Fate: At one point during a banquet Timon boasts that he wishes he were poorer so that he could be "nearer" to his friends. Apemantus later on notes that part of Timon's past blindness and present misanthropy were born from only knowing the top and bottom of Athenian society, and tries to reason with him that the citizenry is really a "forest full of beasts" in the sense that the middle clases are not as obsessed with money as the poorest or the richest.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_15b2cab3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_15b2cab3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_15b2cab3
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_1649e053
type
Your Mom
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_1649e053
comment
Your Mom:
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_1649e053
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_1649e053
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_1649e053
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_2727c89a
type
Pride Before a Fall
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_2727c89a
comment
Pride Before a Fall: Timon
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_2727c89a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_2727c89a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_2727c89a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_44ba9580
type
The Snark Knight
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_44ba9580
comment
The Snark Knight: Apemantus
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_44ba9580
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_44ba9580
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_44ba9580
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4742bedd
type
BuriedTreasure
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4742bedd
comment
Buried Treasure: Timon digs for roots, discovers gold. Instead of making him happy that he can pay off his debts and return to his old life, it drives him deeper into misanthropy and depression since he considers it as salt on the wounds rather than balm. He later uses it to finance his former friend Alcibiades' army marching on Athens and two prostitutes to spread sexually transmitted diseases.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4742bedd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4742bedd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4742bedd
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4766ca14
type
Volleying Insults
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4766ca14
comment
Volleying Insults: An impressively lengthy back-and-forth between Timon and Apemantus occurs near the end of Act 4.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4766ca14
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4766ca14
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4766ca14
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4e3decd5
type
A Friend in Need
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4e3decd5
comment
A Friend in Need: Timon starts the play as this kind of guy, but when he falls on hard times and he expects his friends to come and help him — they don't.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4e3decd5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4e3decd5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_4e3decd5
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_524f397c
type
Madden Into Misanthropy
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_524f397c
comment
Madden Into Misanthropy: When his three closest friends not only refuse, but seem insulted to be asked for help, coupled with his creditors having not an ounce of generosity to wait for their dues despite his honorable nature, drive Timon to misanthropy.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_524f397c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_524f397c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_524f397c
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_5a1912af
type
The Hermit
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_5a1912af
comment
The Hermit: If this play were more famous, Timon would be the poster child.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_5a1912af
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_5a1912af
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_5a1912af
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Apemantus is a crude, boorish fellow. Timon is "timorous" because he relies on his friends... and, well, see A Friend in Need above.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6eeba1cb
type
Shut Up, Kirk!
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6eeba1cb
comment
Shut Up, Kirk!: Arguably a heroic example, when the senators beg Timon to consider what will happen to the citizens of Athens if the rebels take the city. He seems to soften, promises them to "do some kindness" to them.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6eeba1cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6eeba1cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_6eeba1cb
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7a0374eb
type
Impoverished Patrician
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7a0374eb
comment
Impoverished Patrician
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7a0374eb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7a0374eb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7a0374eb
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7d89315b
comment
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Everyone. To everyone. But especially Apemantus. And Timon, in the second half.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7d89315b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7d89315b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_7d89315b
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_87e4c9a2
type
Used to Be More Social
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_87e4c9a2
comment
Used to Be More Social: Timon starts out as the friendliest, most loved man in Athens, but that was until his creditors take all his stuff and his "friends" won't help him out. He is now misanthropic hermit who just wants to be left alone.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_87e4c9a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_87e4c9a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_87e4c9a2
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_a90f0639
type
Entitled Bastard
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_a90f0639
comment
Entitled Bastard: The Athenian Senators come across as this. First they let Timon fall into poverty by not helping him, then they exile Alcibiades when he speaks out for Timon, and then when Alcibiades comes marching with an army to conquer Athens, they plead with Timon to talk down Alcibiades.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_a90f0639
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_a90f0639
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_a90f0639
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_c39846a3
type
Pride
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_c39846a3
comment
Pride: Timon is quite proud of his reputation as a generous patrician. This excessive generosity becomes his Fatal Flaw as he lavishes gifts while paying too little attention to his own finances.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_c39846a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_c39846a3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_c39846a3
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec
type
No Name Given
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec
comment
No Name Given: A truly astonishing number of characters, given that Shakespeare usually liked to name everybody.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ca87e3ec
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ce27dc3f
type
Protagonist Title
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ce27dc3f
comment
Protagonist Title
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ce27dc3f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ce27dc3f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_ce27dc3f
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_e92841f
type
Talking the Monster to Death
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_e92841f
comment
Talking the Monster to Death: At one point, Timon encourages two thieves to continue being thieves and stealing from whoever they can, citing how all of nature, society, mankind and religion are thieves. The "problem" is he's so convincing in laying open how terrible violence and thievery are that he basically shames them into not wanting to steal anymore.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_e92841f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_e92841f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_e92841f
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f4fe270
type
Villainous Glutton
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f4fe270
comment
Villainous Glutton: A non-villainous example, Timon loved to throw feasts. And in a sense, Timon was a "glutton" not for food but for generosity, he genuinely enjoyed giving to the point of self-harm.
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f4fe270
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f4fe270
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f4fe270
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f765e2d3
type
Dying Alone
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f765e2d3
comment
Dying Alone: Timon's fate — he even composes his own epitaph!
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f765e2d3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f765e2d3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_f765e2d3
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
comment
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
 Timon of Athens (Theatre) / int_name
itemName
Timon of Athens (Theatre)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
A Friend in Need / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Affluent Ascetic / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Ancient Greece / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Ancient Grome / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Artistic License – Geography / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Became Their Own Antithesis / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Character Title / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Dying Alone / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Impoverished Patrician / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Madden Into Misanthropy / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Misanthrope Supreme / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Spiteful Spit / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Sword and Sandal / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
The Hermit / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
The Place / int_4df7041a
 Timon Of Athens
seeAlso
Timon of Athens (Theatre)
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Used to Be More Social / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Volleying Insults / int_4df7041a
 Timon of Athens (Theatre)
hasFeature
Your Mom / int_4df7041a