# Scene II explained — The Two Noble Kinsmen

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

## What happens

The Gaoler's Daughter, alone in the forest at night, laments that Palamon has taken the wrong path. She expresses her fear that wolves may have devoured him, yet she cares only for his safety. She reflects on her own dire situation—her father will be hanged for Palamon's escape, and she faces beggary or death. Exhausted and despairing, she contemplates suicide as the only release.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Madness

The Daughter's obsessive love for Palamon drives her to the brink of madness, as she hallucinates wolves, neglects her own needs, and contemplates suicide.

### Suffering and Redemption

The Daughter endures extreme physical and emotional suffering—hunger, sleeplessness, and fear—with no clear hope of redemption, only a desire for an end.

## Character check-ins

### Daughter

Alone in the forest, she is frantic and despairing, fearing Palamon has been eaten by wolves and contemplating her own death.

### Palamon

Mentioned as the object of the Daughter's concern; she fears he has been lost or killed in the forest.

### Gaoler

Referenced as the Daughter's father, who is to be hanged for Palamon's escape.

## Key lines

> He has mistook the brake I meant; is gone After his fancy.

He has taken the wrong path; he has gone off following his own whim.

_The Daughter realizes Palamon has not followed her directions._

> In me hath grief slain fear, and, but for one thing, I care for nothing, and that’s Palamon.

My grief has killed my fear; I care about nothing except Palamon.

_The Daughter's love for Palamon overrides all other concerns, including her own safety._

> My father’s to be hang’d for his escape; Myself to beg, if I priz’d life so much As to deny my act; but that I would not, Should I try death by dozens.

My father will be hanged for helping Palamon escape; I would have to beg if I valued my life enough to deny what I did, but I would not do that, even if I faced death many times over.

_The Daughter acknowledges the consequences of her actions and her refusal to betray Palamon._

> Dissolve my life! let not my sense unsettle, Lest I should drown, or stab, or hang myself!

Let my life end! Do not let my mind become unstable, or I might drown, stab, or hang myself!

_The Daughter prays for death rather than madness, fearing she will commit suicide._

## Links

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