# Valentine — The Two Gentlemen of Verona character guide

> Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sir Valentine, young Valentine, Hapless Valentine, Sweet Valentine

**First appearance:** 0000-the-two-gentlemen-of-verona

## Snapshot

A restless Veronese gentleman who scorns love as folly and sails for Milan chasing honour, only to fall hard for the Duke's unattainable daughter.

## Who they are

Valentine opens the play trading barbs with Proteus about whether love or worldly experience makes a man, then leaves Verona for Milan to seek his fortune. There he falls for Silvia, who is promised to another and locked away by her father, and his romantic scheming puts him on a collision course with both the Duke and his oldest friend. His arc turns on whether the man who mocked 'shallow story of deep love' can prove constant when friendship, exile, and betrayal test him.

## Relationships

### [Silvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/silvia)

_romantic_

Silvia and Valentine are deeply in love, with Valentine as her devoted suitor and Silvia reciprocating his affection despite her father's opposition.

### [Duke of Milan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/duke_of_milan)

_professional_

The Duke of Milan is Valentine's employer and the father of his beloved, initially favoring him but later turning against him when Valentine plans to elope with Silvia.

### [Julia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/julia)

_social_

Julia is acquainted with Valentine through her lover Proteus, and their interactions are largely mediated by the romantic entanglements of the main plot.

### [Thurio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/thurio)

_rivalry_

Thurio is Valentine's rival for Silvia's hand, a foolish and cowardly suitor whom Valentine easily outshines and ultimately defeats.

### [Proteus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/proteus)

_friendship_

Proteus and Valentine are close friends from Verona, but Proteus's betrayal over Silvia severely damages their bond before they reconcile.

### [Julia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/julia)

_social_

Julia is acquainted with Valentine through her lover Proteus, and their interactions are largely mediated by the romantic entanglements of the main plot.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Valentine departs for Milan, eager to see the world and urging Proteus to join him, but ultimately leaves alone.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Deeply in love with Silvia, he is blind to her manipulation and writes a letter to himself at her request.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

In love with Silvia, plans to elope with her, and welcomes Proteus to Milan.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-vi)

Valentine is the friend Proteus plans to betray by revealing his elopement plan to the Duke.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Devastated by banishment, expresses his love for Silvia as his very essence.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Banished from Milan, he encounters outlaws and becomes their captain.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Referenced by Silvia as the one for whom she endures her capture.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv)

Soliloquizes in the forest, confronts Proteus's betrayal, forgives him, and is pardoned by the Duke.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters/valentine
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_gentlemen_of_verona_se/characters