Summing up of the article The Two Gentlemen of Verona by H. C. Goddard

GODDARD, Harold Clarke. The Two Gentlemen of Verona. In: The Meaning of Shakespeare. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1970. v.I, p. 41-4. 

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                                                                                                      By Profª. Drª. Bárbara de Fátima.   

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is full noticed by the use of disguise in its script. The presence of a woman performing as a boy transforms the comedy in a real comedy because on the Elizabethan stage all women’s performance were played by men.

                       
                                      

                                    

 2  women

                                               

 1  men                              3  boys

         
In Twelfth Night, we have a female character called Viola, who in fact is an actor, and after playing as Viola, she disguised herself as a boy called Cesario in order to work as a page in the Duke’s house.

         The author describes two ways of examining The Two Gentlemen of Verona:

11-  It is a kind of premonitional work. The theme which is presented in this play is the same in Twelfth Night, that is, the use of disguise.  Julia and Viola dressed themselves as a boy, and this situation is much more detailed in Viola’s performance.

22- Irony – Another character who presents a great importance is Launce because as a slave he has the perception to describe both gentlemen: Proteus and Valentine in a very ironical way. Why are they called gentlemen? According to Launce’s description of Proteus, he is a terrible, selfish, and false man and Valentine is presented as a man without no desire, and his loyalty and constancy becomes himself in a neutral man. As a juvenile work, it shows a boring wit; an incredible end in relation to Proteus’ final performance; Valentine believes in friendship above love and Proteus differs from him because he believes in love above friendship.

According to the play, the gentlemen are two men who are presented by their differences in character, personality and performance. They do not present the qualities of perfect gentlemen; Antonio, the Duke, Sir Thurio, and mainly Sir Eglamour who is a coward and he proves that it is, when he leaves Silvia with the outlaws in the forest. But sarcastically Shakespeare calls them gentlemen. Why? Because they belong to the upper class of society, they are rich, while Launce and Speed are slaves; their thoughts and position in society give them no opportunity to become gentlemen.

         The happy ending of the play is described according to Renaissance principles of friendship and love. In this play, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, the author makes use of an ironical tone: the “gentlemanly” concepts here are material, physical not psychological or spiritual.  Valentine is the best example of these concepts. He is a good speaker, for that reason he is chosen the captain of the outlaws. 

         All the gentlemen and lords presented in Shakespeare’s plays are used in a very ironical way. Their positions on the plays do not require great effort. The noble title presented by them says everything.