Welcome to Litsy!

I believe this is one of Shakespeare‘s most criminally underrated plays. Through exploring the theme of misanthropy he creates a character that takes you on a rollercoaster of sympathy and hatred. The main character, Timon, transforms from a rich and loathsome man to a misanthrope who detests the rich/aristocracy. This leads to him eventually living out a life of loneliness and betrayal.

“Shame not these woods by putting on the cunning of a carper.”

Our latest #shakespearereadalong This wasn‘t supposed to be preserved and apparently was never finished. It‘s awkward and yet thought provoking. It has the unique aspect of having one misanthrop take down another for the narcissism of his misanthropy! Poor Timon. He goes from riches to rags so bitterly that gold loses its luster. Fun to talk about (and wonder how he buried himself).

This play was never quite finished, and sometimes that is apparent, but it is still darkly humorous and very enjoyable. A rich man who loves to throw his money around finds out how comically false his friends/benefactors are when he goes broke. The lack of female characters is uncharacteristic for Shakespeare--maybe this is more satire because without female influence, this city is rotten and corrupt! #shakespearereadalong

I love this quote about how promising is the fashionable thing to do; performance of what is promised is for idiots. 🤣
#shakespearereadalong

"To be in anger is impiety; But who is man that is not angry?" In a way, Alcibiades having the last word in a play named for another captures the underlying sorrow. I know Timon's position is extreme, but it once again speaks to a kind indictment of society that Shakespeare might have been wrestling with, of which Timon appears as a symptom. The juxtaposition of philanthropy & misanthropy in this play is interesting, because the social order ??

Timon of Athens Act V
#shakespearereadalong

Timon blasts the craftsmen and senators with deep irony. Tell Athens he doesn‘t care. Also he‘s dying. Alcibiades turns merciful. This is a wrap for the 2020 plague year! Thoughts on the act, the play, on any consistency with this Timon and the one in Act I, on our year?

Thanks everyone for another terrific year of Shakespeare, especially @merelybookish and @GingerAntics - our fearless leaders.

Okay, I‘ve finally decided. It‘s got a bit for Athens, a bit for Flavius, the chorus is really obvious, but what can you do?
“This time, I won't take it back
Something's coming to you
This time, I'm gonna breathe a breath
Walking on down the road
I can never promise that never be lonely
But as long as we're together it can always only be
Misery”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-Ai1tmw-c
#TimonOfAthens #shakespearereadalong #hanson #misery

You picked a great Smiths track @Graywacke so I'm going with Jody Watley's 80s pop track about "friends" ? Just the kind of thing I expect Timon to bop around to during those long, lonely hours in the forest.

"Friends", Jody Watley https://youtu.be/pFeeudt9tIU

#ShakespeareReadAlong

For the Timon of Athens Theme Song Challenge, I‘m torn between two songs, both from this album...
When You‘re Gone and Misery.
WYG works because it‘s basically what Timon is thinking after the bottom falls out. Misery works for the title alone, but the first verse is also very much what Timon feels in the second half of the play.
Decisions, decisions.
#Shakespeare #TimonOfAthens #shakespearereadalong

#shakespearereadalong
Timons of Athens theme song challenge

As we wrap up our year of Shakespeare, we inspire ourselves with misanthropic (er...best fit) theme songs. You have till late Sunday to submit. Winner gets a small gift certificate to Bookshop.org

Morrissey will always be my favorite misanthrop, and almost all his songs work. My choice:

Heaven Knows I‘m Miserable Now by The Smiths
https://youtu.be/10z6-vQm23w
(Act 5 Sunday!)

I thought with a few lyric tweaks, my favorite breakup song, “No Children“ by the Mountain Goats would be a fitting soundtrack to Timon's breakup with Athens. You can hear the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm-NW1RwPY8.
#Shakespearereadalong

So I was torn between two songs while thinking about Timon cursing Athens outside the walls of the city. I am going to pick “Seventy times 7” by Brand New for #shakespearereadalong challenge. The song is about how a friend betrayed the lead singer. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WnLJ1iYOZHM

Timon, all alone, digging in the dirt made me think of the classic children's song "Nobody Loves Me."
?Nobody loves me
Everybody hates
Guess I'll go eat worms.
Big fat juicy ones
Little tiny squiggly ones.
Watch then wriggle and squirm?
(I guess that gives some indication of my feelings about Timon ?)
If you dare (and can handle an ear ?), here's a version of the song https://youtu.be/BR2hflMkGLg
#shakespearereadalong @Graywacke

So after a day of listening to some dark melodies this is my pick for #shakespearereadalong challenge. When Timon leaves Athens and changes into a misanthropic angry recluse.

“Leave me alone
And my heart has become a cold and impassive machine
Leave me alone
I must disassociate from you”

The Handler - Muse

https://open.spotify.com/track/6xq3Bd7MvZVa7pda9tC4MW?si=ZrLQzUh-QqOLI2extHCE3w

"I to bear this, That never knew but better, is some burden. Thy nature did commence in sufferance; time Hath made thee hard in 't. Why shouldst thou hate men?" Gotta love Timon telling Apemantus that Timon has the right to suffer and complain because, having always been rich, it is just SO MUCH HARDER for him to be poor, wheras Apemantus is used to it. And there goes the last shred of sympathy I had for Timon. ? #shakespearereadalong

Here‘s my submission @Graywacke

https://youtu.be/XluslIGClRA

I went ahead and listened to the rest of this play this morning because I just wanted to be done with it. There were some fun scenes, but overall I just didn‘t care what happened.

I am happy to say that I have enjoyed a year of reading with the #ShakespeareReadalong group, and I‘m looking forward to continuing to add post-its to my edition of Shakespeare. #ArkAngelShakespeare

A camaraderie of misanthropy? In between bouts of fantastic curses and insults, contradictions abound. Timon, broken, goes to live like a beast in the woods, and finds gold. Then spars with all visitors as he offers them gold. Alcibiades and thieves accept. Apemantus refuses. Flavius is confused. The promised Painter and Poet are no shows. What were you thoughts on this spite ... and spiteful philosophy? #shakespearereadalong Timon Act 4

Just another instance of Shakespeare capturing the spirit of 2020 with brevity.

#ShakespeareReadAlong

Inspired by Timon?

Don‘t neglect your misanthropy this holiday season. Timon of Athens Act 4 Sunday.
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Timon of Athens Act 3 - #shakespearereadalong

Timon‘s closest, most indebted friends don‘t just refuse help, but do it in style, Lucius going all out Lindsey Graham. An observer: “But I perceive Men must learn now with pity to dispense, For policy sits above conscience.” Then come the creditors and Timon‘s last party. His blessing a curse, his serving hot rocks and water - and “henceforth hated be Of Timon man and all humanity.” Feeling any pity?

The moral of the story is that being rich will kill you. I didn‘t find anything of the characters to be particularly sympathetic. I feel for Timon a little bit because he was taken advantage of, but he was throwing money around with no care for the fact he had his own creditors and needed money to survive. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

I‘m a bit bummed about this one...hoping my #ShakespeareGroupRead can help me gain more meaning by the time we finish the final discussion for this one later this month... it felt like a fable to me, a morality play, but like they missed something in the ending, like it wasn‘t completely wrapped up correctly. 🤷‍♀️

#cardswap
Thank you @Jadams1776 for brightening my day with the very first 2020 December holiday card I have received! I have gathered my various boxes of cards and will be sending out in the next week. Timon tagged for no reason other than I was reading it when I received the card. 😀

Act 2. I was really disappointed we never got to hear the Fool finish his riddle: "they enter my mistress' house merrily and go away sadly." Also, how is Timon so stupid and careless about money? As others commented last act, I wish we knew how he got rich.

Timon of Athens
Act II - Nov 29
#Shakespearereadalong

Creditors call and Flavius is finally able to let Timon in on his ruined finances. No funds, no lands to sell, and no senators to borrow from. But he says, “I am wealthy in my friends!” Flavius is not so sure.

A short act that hopefully we could all squeeze in during this unusually isolated American holiday. Thoughts?

Act 1: Ventidius's father died and left him rich, so he tries to pay back the talents ($10,000 worth approximately, no mean sum) Timon paid to get him out of debtor's prison, and Timon refuses to take it. This seems ridiculous and almost seems like Timon is grandstanding and trying to show off how rich and generous he is. If I were V, I would feel patronized and like he wanted me in his debt.
#shakespearereadalong

Another Sunday means another act of Shakespeare. I listened to Act I of Timon of Athens, but I think I‘m going to need to read the discussion and listen again to catch more details.

#ShakespeareReadalong #ArkAngelShakespeare

Just wanted to take a moment to appreciate how the characters are listed in this Signet edition. #FalseFriendsAndFlatteringLords

#ShakespeareReadAlong @Graywacke

Timon of Athens - Act 1 (early post*)

Amazon dances! Living the high life - but with empty coffers. (I might call it Florida style). Lots of quick clever lines that can get overlooked, especially from our poet and Apemantus. Double meanings everywhere. This play is considered unpolished and was maybe not finalized or performed by the Bard. Are you into it?

*Discussion is Sunday. Posting now because I may be without internet then.

“Our own precedent passions do instruct us what levity‘s in youth.”

I‘ve cracked it open and I‘m already rereading act I, trying to catch all these lines tossed out here as the play rapidly runs by. (Also I was won over by the poet on rereading)

Timon of Athens
#shakespearereadalong
Act I - Nov 22
Act II - Nov 29
Act III - Dec 6
Act IV - Dec 13
Act V - Dec 20

Pictured: Timon as cast in the latest RSC performance. Who is he? She? See the Peloponnesian War and the conflicted life of Athenian Alcibiades (Wikipedia hole dive?) Or keep an open mind and think about what friendships you can buy (💰) as our Bard did.

Note: because of travel, I‘ll pre-post Friday Nov 20 and re-prompt Nov 22.

Playing Bards Dispense Profanity with friends.... this may be my favorite card so far 😂😂😂

Waiting for the play to start, earlier today. Bard on the Beach staged Timon almost entirely with women actors. I loved it!

I wasn‘t familiar with this play and I‘m going to see it at Bard on the Beach in Vancouver at the end of July, so I listened to this full cast #audiobook. I wasn‘t expecting much—there must be a reason that it isn‘t often performed—but I quite liked it. The themes of greed and disillusionment spoke to me. In the Vancouver production, it will be set in contemporary times with women playing most of the roles, including Timon.

#TimonofAthens #SeductiveShakespeare
@jenniferw88 @NataliePatalie

Stacks of Shakespeares at the local used bookstore. Nary a #TimonofAthens amid them. 🤷
#seductiveshakespeare @jenniferw88

I haven't read or seen this one yet, but I like this quote. #timonifathens #seductiveShakespeare @jenniferw88

#seductiveshakespeare Day 10: Timon of Athens

Not so sure about this one. Its a cautionary tale about trusting others which is interesting but I think the fact that Shakespeare didn't finish it comes through. There's something lacking. But I did rush through it too because I have a lot to read now, so that might have dampened it a bit for me too.

Poet: "Good day, sir."
Painter: "I am glad you're well."
Poet: "I have not seen you long: how goes the world?"
Painter: "It wears, sir, as it grows."

#firstlines #shakespearechallenge