The Two Gentlemen of

Verona
William Shakespeare
by: Valerija Matisone An AB
 *Date of original publication: 1593
*Awards: The musical made out of this play
won 8 Drama Desk Awards and 2 Tony Awards
in 1972 including Best Musical and Best Book
of a Musical.
*Notable Facts: First performed between 1594
and 1595.
First printed in 1623, before then people would
see the play and note details and rewrite the
play without Shakespeare’s consent
The play focuses on two gentlemen from Verona
that are caught between love and friendship.
 Setting:
*Verona, Italy in the 1500’s
*It is set in the Elizabethan era which is the same era it was
written in.
*Milan is portrayed as this wonderful place of adventure that
the characters want to visit but leaving Verona makes them
question their love life. “The forest” is portrayed as an
escape from the characters problems where they can try and
solve their romantic problems.
 Themes

The friendship between two men is viewed as a more elevated form of

connectedness than the love between a man and women.

Another theme is the strange things people will do when they are in
love
• Conflict: Both Proteus and Valentine are in love
with Julia and must decide between love and
their friendship.
• Protagonist: Proteus and Valentine
• Antagonist: Love, Silvia gets in between the two
mens’ friendship and causes them both to have
hardships.
 Summary
In the beginning of the play we are introduced to
Valentine and Proteus who are saying their goodbyes as
Valentine leaves to find adventure in Milan and Proteus
stays in Verona tied to Julia, his love. Proteus is sent to
the Duke’s court in Milan and before leaving he
expresses his love to Julia with a promise ring.
Meanwhile in Milan Valentine has fallen in love with the
Duke’s daughter, Silvia.
 When Proteus arrives in Milan he too falls in love with Silvia. This
creates conflict between the two men and meanwhile Julia disguises
herself as Sebastian and travels to Milan to be reunited with Proteus
only to find him enchanced with another woman. Valentine is exiled
because Proteus told the Duke of his plans to elope with Silvia and
becomes king of the outlaws. Proteus is giving Silvia a ring.
 When the Duke finds out that his daughter ran to the woods he gets
together a search party including Proteus and Sebastian (Julia). When
Proteus catches up to Julia he tries to assault her but is stopped by
Valentine. The two men then hash out their problems and Sebastian
revealing his true identity as Julia. Proteus then falls back in love with
Julia and then the Duke presents Silvia as a gift to Valentine for being
a great guy. In the end Valentine suggest a double wedding and they all
head off to the Duke’s place for a big reception.
 Main Characters

*Proteus (loves Julia and Silvia)

*Valentine (loves silvia and is friends with
Proteus)
*Silvia (the Duke of Milan’s daughter)
*Julia (disguises herself as Sebastian)
*Duke of Milan (Silvia’s father)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WydXx0flEIM
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