# Scene VI explained — The Two Gentlemen of Verona

> Chapter companion for The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Proteus, alone in the Duke's palace, wrestles with his conscience as he decides to betray his friend Valentine and forsake his beloved Julia in order to pursue Silvia. He resolves to inform the Duke of Valentine's planned elopement, hoping to have Valentine banished and thereby clear his own path to win Silvia.

## Themes in this chapter

### Friendship vs. Love

Proteus explicitly weighs his friendship with Valentine against his love for Silvia, choosing love at the cost of treachery.

### Constancy and Inconstancy

Proteus acknowledges his own inconstancy, breaking vows to Julia and Valentine in pursuit of a new love.

### Disguise and Deception

Proteus plans to deceive Valentine and the Duke by revealing the secret elopement, using disguise and treachery.

## Character check-ins

### Proteus

Proteus delivers a soliloquy justifying his betrayal of Julia and Valentine to pursue Silvia.

### Julia

Julia is mentioned as the lover Proteus is forsaking.

### Silvia

Silvia is the object of Proteus's new affection.

### Valentine

Valentine is the friend Proteus plans to betray by revealing his elopement plan to the Duke.

### Thurio

Thurio is mentioned as the Duke's preferred suitor for Silvia, whom Proteus intends to outmaneuver.

### Duke of Milan

The Duke is the one Proteus plans to inform of Valentine's disguise and intended flight.

## Key lines

> To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn;

Breaking my promise to Julia, breaking my promise to love Silvia, and betraying my friend Valentine would all be perjuries.

_Proteus lists the three oaths he is about to break._

> I to myself am dearer than a friend, For love is still most precious in itself;

I value myself more than any friend, because love is ultimately about self-interest.

_Proteus rationalizes his selfishness._

> This night he meaneth with a corded ladder To climb celestial Silvia’s chamber-window, Myself in counsel, his competitor. Now presently I’ll give her father notice Of their disguising and pretended flight;

Tonight Valentine plans to use a rope ladder to climb to Silvia's window, and I am his confidant and rival. I will immediately tell her father about their disguise and planned escape.

_Proteus reveals his plan to betray Valentine's secret._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters