About this title: "Timon of Athens" is a bitterly intriguing study of a fabulously rich man who wastes his wealth on his friends, and, when he is finally impoverished, learns to despise humanity with a hatred that drives him to his grave. The play's response to matters topical in Jacobean London sharpens its thrust as satire. Yet the setting in ancient Athens allows it to read as a timeless fable, deeply relevant to a modern society that sees itself as pursuing material prosperity to the point of self-destruction. The first half of the play offers a satirical vision of a world of artifice and insincerity. The ...
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Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Signet Classics
Date Published: 1965
ISBN-13:9780451516404ISBN:0451516400
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. read more
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 125 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Audio Partners
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9781932219739ISBN:1932219730
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover., In like new dust jacket. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Audio Partners
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9781932219739ISBN:1932219730
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover., In like new dust jacket. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 04/2004
ISBN-13:9780198129387ISBN:0198129386
Description: Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. In like new dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 250 p. Contains: Illustrations. read more
Description: Good. 0416278604 Good condition paperback book, some creases to spine, some edge/corner rubs, may have corner crease, small edge tear or spine slant, a good book for reading. Shop & Save With US. read more
Binding: Full-Leather
Publisher: Sands & Co., London, United Kingdom
Date Published: 1898
Description: Good. No Jacket. Pocket Falstaff Edition, pocket sized. Softcover, red leather with gold lettering and decoration; 5 3/4 inches (14.5 cm) tall; 99 pages; tight; no markings; slightly age-tanned; very minor wear inside; no dj; cover soiled and edgeworn. Many of the pages uncut hence book never read. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780671722913ISBN:0671722913
Description: Good. Used item may show library stamps, stickers and marks. Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date Published: 1965
ISBN-13:9780140714296ISBN:0140714294
Description: Good. Good Condition. Reasonable wear-still very useable. Text appears free of marks, writing, and highlighting. May have bookstore-related stamps/stickers/marks. Multiple copies may be available. SHIPS W/IN 24 HOURS! FREE INSURANCE on all orders! E-mail notification! Careful, thorough packaging. Fast, personal service. No hassle, full refund return policy! COMBINE SHIPPING-TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER BOOKS/CDs/MOVIES AVAILABLE! read more
Summary- Timon is a very generous man, he squanders his wealth (that he seemingly acquires by magical touch (no he doesn't use his 5 finger discount)) on parties and gifts for his friends. Apemantus is a jerk but right when he says this life style will not suffice and it only gathers flatterers not friends. He refuses to accept payments for his gifts. His servant Flavius (Flay-va Flave!) tells him his wealth is diminishing, Timon ignores him. Finally Timon calls upon his "friends" for a loan, they refuse, he asks Ventidius (whom he bailed out of prison) for a loan who promptly declines. Timon has no moneys.
Characters- each character plays a specific role, representing the usual basics, an enemy, an acquaintance, someone loyal (servant in this case). Most characters are important; Apemantus is clearly a character whose judgment and words will appear later. Alcibiades is definitely going to appear later. The characters are indeed believable, they each play their part and contribute to the story, nothing is unachievable (like a comic book (this is more like batman)).
Themes- you can't buy friendship, true friends are earned. Money is the root of all evil, he focuses on material gain, rather than lasting endeavors.
Style- it's a tragedy, literally. I've never been too good at deciphering or detecting literary devices. I did however find out that this is a subtle satire of England's James 1.
Woo- I did enjoy what I have read of the play, it is interesting and intriguing. I'm not much of a reader, but I happen to enjoy this particular piece. I actually want to read the Count of Monte Cristo now.
Lines- "Men shut their doors against a setting sun" "I wonder men dare trust themselves with men" "Tis' not enough to help the feeble up" I find these to be powerful, meaningful lines, especially the last one. (it's very meaningful..........and powerful)"
"The Bard has some excellent, pointed speaches in here, but the play as a whole is rough and light on drama.
Timon's demise is a tragic fall, but it feels like more of a fall from a stepstool than a fall from a cliff. There just isn't enough change to fill out Timon's arc. He loses his wealth and his friends, to be sure. But he never really had those friends to begin with.
His true journey is from gleeful ignorance of his own affairs to bitter hatred, and from there, to nowhere.
It is, however, an excellent play to compare to Shakespeare's other, greater works. What makes Othello so tight, so focused, whereas Timon of Athens is much weaker? I think the great usefullness of reading Timon is to see when, despite the language and eloquence, the play doesn't work. Not for lack of artistry, but for lack of structure and editing."
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