Proteus loves Julia. But Proteus’ father sends him to Milan, where Proteus’ best friend, Valentine, is staying. There, Valentine has fallen in love with Silvia. Proteus tries to tear Valentine and Silvia apart because he himself falls instantly for Silvia upon arrival. When Julia, disguised as a boy, arrives in Milan, she finds her situation altered. Will Proteus return to Julia? Can Valentine and Silvia be reunited? In The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare raises questions about the nature of friendship and romantic love, self-determination, and deception. The Shakescleare modern English translation of the play will help you untangle this tricky plot, and allow you to better understand the play’s most famous quotes, like “They do not love that do not show their love.”
Nina Romancikova is from Slovakia but her love of literature and theater has brought her to the UK and she has been living and studying there for the past six years. She graduated with a degree in English Literature and Language at University of Glasgow in 2016. Nina is now finishing her Masters in Shakespeare Studies at King's College London and is currently working as a Research Intern at Shakespeare's Globe.