The Two Noble Kinsmen · Chapter
Scene IV explained
The Gaoler's Daughter confesses her deep love for Palamon, a prince imprisoned by her father.
What happens
The Gaoler's Daughter confesses her deep love for Palamon, a prince imprisoned by her father. She acknowledges the social gulf between them but decides to free him, hoping to win his love.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Madness
The Daughter's intense, irrational love for Palamon drives her to contemplate breaking the law, blurring the line between devotion and madness.
Gender and Power
The Daughter's awareness of her low social status and gender highlights the power imbalance in her pursuit of a prince.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Why should I love this gentleman? ’tis odds He never will affect me: I am base, My father the mean keeper of his prison, And he a prince: to marry him is hopeless, To be his whore is witless.”
Why do I love this man? It's unlikely he'll ever love me back. I'm lowborn, my father is just a jailer, and he's a prince. Marrying him is impossible, and being his mistress is foolish.
The Daughter acknowledges the social barriers between her and Palamon.
“What should I do, to make him know I love him? For I would fain enjoy him say I ventur’d To set him free? what says the law, then? Thus much For law, or kindred! I will do it; And this night or to-morrow he shall love me.”
What can I do to show him I love him? I want to have him—what if I risk freeing him? To hell with the law and my family! I'll do it, and tonight or tomorrow he will love me.
The Daughter resolves to free Palamon, disregarding legal and familial consequences.