The authoritative edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen from The Folger
Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for
students and general readers.
Written by Shakespeare and John Fletcher, this play tells the familiar
story of a love triangle. Here, though, it seems distant and strange.
Initially, the Theban knights Arcite and Palamon are devoted kinsmen,
both serving their king, Creaon, who is defeated by Theseus, Duke of
Athens. After they are imprisoned in Athens, they see Emilia, sister of
the Duchess of Athens, through a window. They become rivals for her
love, eager to fight each other to the death, even though she does not
know they exist.
After Arcite is released and banished, and Palamon escapes, they begin
their would-be fight to the death with chivalric ceremony. Theseus,
happening on them, decrees that they must compete for her in a
tournament, after which the loser will be executed.
Emilia is no willing bride; as a girl, she loved Flavina, who has died.
Still, she tries to avert the tournament by choosing between Arcite and
Palamon, only to find she cannot. The jailer's daughter, a character
added by the playwrights, is infatuated with Palamon and helps him
escape. But the social gulf between her and Palamon is unimaginably
wide. Only the gods can bring the play to resolution.
This edition includes:
-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the
play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of
the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the play's famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern
perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of
rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading
Essay by Dieter Mehl
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's
largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for
Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions
open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full
calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit
Folger.edu.
