TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 

by William Shakespeare

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA by William Shakespeare

Play Summary

The two "gentlemen" of the title are Proteus and Valentin, who part ways at the beginning of the play. Valentin travels to Milan, where he falls in love with Silvia, the duke's daughter. Proteus, meanwhile, is looking for love and stays in Verona, vowing to be faithful to his beloved Julia.

However, when Proteus travels to Milan, he too falls in love with Silvia and proceeds to undermine her friend by informing the duke. Valentin is banished to the forest, where he joins a gang of thieves. Proteus pursues Silvia more and more fiercely, even threatening to take her violently. Julia arrives in Milan disguised as a page and teams up with the unsuspecting Proteus, and the two "rescue" Silvia from the bandits she had fled. Just as Protée is about to attack Silvia, Valentin steps in to save her. Surprisingly, Valentine is so overwhelmed by his friend's anguish that he is even willing to hand Silvia over to Proteus. Julia passes out and Page's true identity is revealed. Proteus now considers her her true love, and the Duke takes the stage to offer her daughter's hand to Valentine.

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