# Scene IV explained — The Two Noble Kinsmen

> Chapter companion for The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### Daughter

The Gaoler's Daughter delivers a soliloquy expressing her love for Palamon and her plan to free him.

### Palamon

Palamon is the object of the Daughter's affection; she describes his noble behavior and sad songs.

## Key lines

> 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._

## Links

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