“Two Gents” (“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)

Minneapolis Central Library: Room N-202.

There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.

This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.

They do not love that do not show their love.
– Julia, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 1 Scene 2

Hope is a lover’s staff; walk hence with that
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
– Proteus, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 3, Scene 1

SYNOPSIS (from the Folger Library)
• While the word “gentlemen” suggests that its heroes are adults, The Two Gentlemen of Verona is more intelligible if we think of them as boys, leaving home for the first time. One has a crush on a girl, Julia, though he hasn’t yet told her.
• Sent to court to learn to be “perfect gentlemen,” Valentine and Proteus are derailed by their attraction to Sylvia, the ruler’s daughter. Valentine’s mental denseness does not deter Sylvia from returning his love, but he is caught, and banished, when he tries to elope with her. Proteus’s desire for Sylvia wipes out his former love, leading him into despicable acts that win scorn from Sylvia and wound Julia, who has pursued him disguised as a boy.
• When Sylvia follows Valentine into banishment, Proteus follows Sylvia, and Julia follows Proteus, the stage is set for a disturbing ending. But the stage is also set for the “gentlemen” to take small steps toward maturity.

DOWNLOAD TEXT FOR FREE

FREE VIDEO PERFORMANCES (YOUTUBE)
• Hofstra Shakespeare Festival, Hofstra University (2018)
• Texas Shakespeare Festival, Kilgore College (2020)
• The Curtain Theatre (2022)
• Syracuse Shakespeare-In-The-Park (2024)
• Emporia State University Theatre Arts (has subtitles) (2024)

KANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays. You can also watch the Shakespeare series “Upstart Crow” for free.

LOCAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
• Ten Thousand Things
Sept. 24 - Nov. 2, 2025
Various Locations

TIM NANCE: SHAKESPEARE’S THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (YOUTUBE)
• Summary and Discussion

ARTICLES
• Wikipedia: “Two Gentlemen of Verona”
• “About Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona” by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• “A Modern Perspective: The Two Gentlemen of Verona” by Jeffrey Masten
• SparkNotes: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Full Play Analysis
• SparkNotes: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Full Book Quiz
• Further Reading: The Two Gentlemen of Verona

GENERAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• Podcast: “Shakespeare Unlimited” Play by Play
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.]

FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His World

APP
• Shakespeare App

BEST SHAKESPEARE USED BOOK SELECTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES
• Midway Books, St. Paul
• The Book House, Minneapolis
• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, Minneapolis