The Two Gentlemen of Verona · Chapter
Scene II explained
The Duke and Thurio discuss Silvia's continued mourning for Valentine after his banishment.
What happens
The Duke and Thurio discuss Silvia's continued mourning for Valentine after his banishment. The Duke enlists Proteus to slander Valentine and promote Thurio as a suitor, while Proteus feigns reluctance but agrees to betray his friend. Thurio is advised to woo Silvia with poetry and music.
Themes in this chapter
Disguise and Deception
Proteus disguises his true intentions, pretending to be a loyal friend while plotting to betray Valentine.
Friendship vs. Love
Proteus prioritizes his own romantic interests over his friendship with Valentine, agreeing to slander him.
Characters to notice
- Duke of Milan
Schemes with Thurio and Proteus to make Silvia forget Valentine and love Thurio.
- Thurio
Despairs over Silvia's rejection but eagerly accepts Proteus' advice to win her with sonnets and music.
- Proteus
Pretends loyalty to the Duke while agreeing to slander Valentine, revealing his duplicity.
Key passages
“This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat Dissolves to water and doth lose his form.”
This faint impression of love is like a carving in ice that melts quickly in the heat.
The Duke dismisses Silvia's love for Valentine as temporary and easily erased.
“The best way is to slander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice and poor descent, Three things that women highly hold in hate.”
The most effective method is to spread lies about Valentine, accusing him of being a coward and of low birth, which women despise.
Proteus advises the Duke on how to turn Silvia against Valentine through slander.
“For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews, Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones, Make tigers tame and huge leviathans Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.”
The power of poetry is like Orpheus' music, which could soften hard hearts and tame wild beasts.
Proteus extols the persuasive power of poetry to win Silvia's love.