Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

"Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a play written in the late 16th century. The work centers around themes of love, friendship, and betrayal as it follows two companions, Valentine and Proteus, who experience complicated romantic entanglements with two women, Silvia and Julia. The play delves into the nature of love and loyalty, exploring how easily they can be tested. The opening of the play introduces the friendship between Valentine and Proteus, set in Verona, as Valentine prepares to leave for Milan. They engage in witty banter about love, with Proteus expressing a deep passion for Julia, while Valentine speaks of the joys and sorrows of love. Meanwhile, Julia, who is in love with Proteus, contemplates her feelings and the societal constraints that affect her choices. The stage is set for a complex exploration of love's challenges, foreshadowed by Proteus’s impending journey, which will lead to significant conflicts and revelations as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.