Two Gentlemen of Verona, The, is a five-act romantic comedy by the English dramatist William Shakespeare. The play is one of his earliest and least popular works. He probably wrote it in 1592 or 1593. There is no record of any performance during Shakespeare’s lifetime. The first known performance took place in 1762. Some critics, however, believe that it was probably first staged in 1594.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is partly based on Diana Enamorada, a story by the Spanish author Jorge de Montemayor, and on The Book of the Governor, an educational work by the English author Sir Thomas Elyot. The play is a witty comedy of love and friendship. It takes place mostly in the Italian cities of Verona and Milan. The play centers on two friends from Verona, Valentine and Proteus. Proteus loves Julia and is loved by her in return. Valentine takes a trip to Milan, where he immediately falls in love with Silvia, the daughter of the Duke of Milan. A little later, Proteus travels to Milan also, and the two young men meet. They soon become rivals for the love of Silvia. Proteus betrays his friend by revealing to the duke Valentine and Silvia’s plan to elope. Valentine is exiled and becomes leader of a gang of outlaws.
Silvia is desperate to avoid the attentions of Thurio, her father’s choice of husband for her. She escapes with the help of Eglamour, a courtier. Aiming to rejoin Valentine, she is captured by outlaws and rescued by Proteus. Valentine discovers Proteus as his friend is about to force his attentions on Silvia. Proteus repents his action, and Valentine forgives him. Valentine then tells his friend that he can have Silvia. But Valentine’s generosity becomes unnecessary. Proteus learns that Julia has followed him to Milan disguised as a page. Proteus realizes that he really loves Julia. He marries her at the end of the play, and Valentine marries Silvia.
In The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare introduced several features and devices that he later used so effectively in the great romantic comedies of his second period. For example, he included beautiful songs, such as “Who Is Silvia?”; scenes in a peaceful, idealized forest; and a woman disguised as a man.
