NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE

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NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE

TWO
GENTLEMEN
OF VERONA

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ISBN 978-1-4549-2878-2

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Cover and title page illustration by Richard Amari.

There’s matter in these sighs, these profound heaves. You must translate: ’tis fit we understand them.

(Hamlet, 4.1.1–2)

FEAR NOT.

Have you ever found yourself looking at a Shakespeare play, then down at the footnotes, then back up at the play, and still not understanding? You know what the individual words mean, but they don’t add up. SparkNotes’ No Fear Shakespeare will help you break through all that. Put the pieces together with our easy-to-read translations. Soon you’ll be reading Shakespeare’s own words fearlessly— and actually enjoying it.

No Fear Shakespeare pairs Shakespeare’s language with a translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today. When Shakespeare’s words make your head spin, our translation will help you sort out what’s happening, who’s saying what, and why.

CHARACTERS

Proteus—Valentine’s supposed best friend and one of the titular gentlemen of Verona. Proteus is Julia’s sweetheart at the beginning of the play, but when he joins Valentine at the duke’s palace, he falls in love with Silvia and attempts to steal her away from Valentine.

Valentine—Proteus’s best friend and Silvia’s love. Valentine is the other titular gentleman of Verona. Banished to the forest after Proteus betrays to the duke Valentine’s plan to elope with Silvia, he becomes king of the outlaws.

Julia—Proteus’s beloved, Julia, is mistress of the servant Lucetta. Julia disguises herself as Sebastian, an aristocratic male page, when she travels to Milan to visit Proteus. As the page, she does Proteus’s bidding, delivering to his new beloved, Silvia, the very ring she herself had earlier given him as a gift.

Silvia—The duke’s daughter and beloved of Valentine. Proteus and Thurio also vie for her affections. Silvia commiserates with Sebastian over the wrong that Proteus has done to Julia. She escapes her father’s palace with the help of Sir Eglamour, who abandons her at the sight of the outlaws.

Duke of Milan—Silvia’s father. He wants Silvia to marry the boorish but wealthy suitor Thurio. Upon hearing of Valentine’s plot to elope with Silvia, the duke banishes Valentine.

Lucetta—Julia’s servant. She considers love from a practical point of view and helps Julia disguise herself as a man.

Launce—Proteus’ servant and the master of a poorly trained mutt named Crab. His devotion to his dog knows no bounds and gives the play much humor. Launce falls in love with an unattractive but wealthy maid.

Speed—Valentine’s page. At the beginning of the play, Speed does Proteus’s bidding as well. He is friendly with Launce.

Thurio—A foolish rival to Valentine for Silvia’s hand. Thurio is wealthy and unpleasant.

Sir Eglamour—The gentleman Silvia calls upon to help her escape from the duke’s court.

Antonio—Proteus’s father and the master of the servant Panthino.

Host—The person who houses Julia while she searches for Proteus.

Outlaws—A crew of bandits who make Valentine their king when he is banished.

Crab—Launce’s dog.

Panthino—Antonio’s servant.