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The Two Noble Kinsmen

Chapter 3: Dramatis Personæ

By William Shakespeare

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About This Book

Two cousins, held captive near a city, both fall in love with the same noblewoman, triggering rivalry that strains their kinship. One cousin wins freedom but is banished and returns in disguise to serve nearby, while the other remains imprisoned and becomes involved with a jailer’s daughter, creating a comic domestic subplot. Their rivalry grows through madness, vows, and the orchestration of a formal tournament by the ruling lord, where omens and chance influence events. The contest concludes with a fatal accident, reconciliation among survivors, and a ceremonial ending that reflects on love, honor, and the fickleness of fortune.

Contents

ACT I

Scene I. Athens. Before a temple

Scene II. Thebes. The Court of the Palace

Scene III. Before the gates of Athens

Scene IV. A field before Thebes.

Scene V. Another part of the same, more remote from Thebes

ACT II

Scene I. Athens. A garden, with a castle in the background

Scene II. The prison

Scene III. The country near Athens

Scene IV. Athens. A room in the prison

Scene V. An open place in Athens

Scene VI. Athens. Before the prison

ACT III

Scene I. A forest near Athens

Scene II. Another part of the forest

Scene III. The same part of the forest as in scene I.

Scene IV. Another part of the forest

Scene V. Another part of the forest

Scene VI. The same part of the forest as in scene III.

ACT IV

Scene I. Athens. A room in the prison

Scene II. A Room in the Palace

Scene III. A room in the prison

ACT V

Scene I. Athens. Before the Temples of Mars, Venus, and Diana

Scene II. Athens. A Room in the Prison

Scene III. A part of the Forest near Athens, and near the Place appointed for the Combat

Scene IV. The same; a Block prepared

Dramatis Personæ

PROLOGUE

ARCITE, the two noble kinsmen, cousins,
PALAMON, nephews of Creon, King of Thebes

THESEUS, Duke of Athens
HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, later Duchess of Athens
EMILIA, Sister of Hippolyta
PIRITHOUS, friend to Theseus

Three QUEENS, widows of the kings killed in laying siege to Thebes

The JAILER of Theseus’s prison
His DAUGHTER, in love with Palamon
His BROTHER,
The WOOER of the Jailer’s daughter
Two FRIENDS of the Jailer,
A DOCTOR

ARTESIUS, an Athenian soldier
VALERIUS, a Theban
WOMAN, attending on Emilia
An Athenian GENTLEMAN
Six KNIGHTS, three accompanying Arcite, three Palamon

Six COUNTRYMEN, one dressed as a Bavian or baboon
Gerald, a SCHOOLMASTER
NEL, a countrywoman
A TABORER

A singing BOY
A HERALD
A MESSENGER
A SERVANT

EPILOGUE

Hymen (god of weddings), lords, soldiers, four countrywomen (Fritz, Maudlin, Luce, and Barbary), nymphs, attendants, maids, executioner, guard

SCENE: Athens and the Neighbourhood, except in part of the first Act, where it is Thebes and the Neighbourhood