# Palamon — The Two Noble Kinsmen character guide > Palamon in The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Palamon Small, Prince Palamon, Good Palamon, Palamon Sir **First appearance:** 0004-act-i-scene-ii ## Snapshot A Theban prince who loves his cousin as a brother until a single glimpse of Emilia turns devotion into a rivalry that prison bars cannot contain. ## Who they are Palamon enters the play as half of a celebrated Theban friendship, captured with Arcite after Creon's fall and locked in an Athenian prison where the two men finish each other's laments about lost honor and unmarried death. The sight of Emilia walking below transforms his grief into a consuming, almost religious passion, and he quickly reframes his cousin's equal claim as treachery. His brooding, possessive intensity — the 'melancholy' Emilia finds noble and menacing — makes him the story's engine of escalating conflict, especially once he is left behind in Athens while Arcite is banished. ## Relationships ### [Gaoler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/gaoler) _professional_ Gaoler is Palamon's jailer, responsible for his imprisonment and custody. ### [Arcite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/arcite) _rivalry_ Arcite and Palamon are cousins turned bitter rivals, both in love with Emilia and fighting to the death. ### [Emilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/emilia) _romantic_ Emilia is the object of Palamon's love and desire, though she is conflicted and initially uninterested. ### [Messenger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/messenger) _professional_ Messenger delivers official communications and news to Palamon regarding his fate and the tournament. ### [First Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/first_servant) _social_ First Servant acts as a go-between for the Daughter and Palamon, facilitating their secret meetings. ### [Pirithous](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/pirithous) _friendship_ Pirithous is a friend and ally to Palamon, advocating for him before Theseus. ### [Wooer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/wooer) _rivalry_ Wooer is the man the Daughter's father wants her to marry, creating a romantic rivalry with Palamon. ### [Theseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/theseus) _social_ Theseus is the Duke of Athens who judges and ultimately pardons Palamon, setting the terms for the duel. ### [Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/doctor) _psychological_ Doctor uses Palamon's identity as a therapeutic tool to cure the Daughter's madness. ### [Gaoler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/gaoler) _professional_ Gaoler is Palamon's jailer, responsible for his imprisonment and custody. ### [Arcite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/arcite) _rivalry_ Arcite and Palamon are cousins turned bitter rivals, both in love with Emilia and fighting to the death. ### [Arcite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/arcite) _rivalry_ Arcite and Palamon are cousins turned bitter rivals, both in love with Emilia and fighting to the death. ## In the story ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Palamon expresses disgust with Thebes' corruption and Creon's tyranny, but resolves to fight for Thebes when war is declared. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Brought in on a hearse, severely wounded but alive; Theseus orders his recovery. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Seen above; the Daughter identifies him as the one looking out. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Laments imprisonment and lost glory, then becomes fiercely jealous when Arcite also loves Emilia. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Palamon is the object of the Daughter's affection; she describes his noble behavior and sad songs. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-vi) Freed by the Daughter, hiding in a wood, though he has not thanked her. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Escaped from prison, confronts Arcite in the forest, accusing him of treachery and demanding a duel for Emilia. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Mentioned as the object of the Daughter's concern; she fears he has been lost or killed in the forest. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Accepts Arcite's help but remains hostile, accusing Arcite of betraying their bond over Emily. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi) Defies Theseus, confesses his love for Emilia and his treason, and demands to fight Arcite. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Mentioned as having cleared the Gaoler and secured his pardon, and as the object of the daughter's love. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Palamon prays to Venus for victory in love, emphasizing his devotion and chastity, and receives a sign of doves. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Palamon fights valiantly but is defeated; Emilia mourns his loss and the injustice of the outcome. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv) Prepares for execution with dignity, commends the Gaoler's daughter, and is spared after Arcite's accident; receives Emilia from the dying Arcite. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters/palamon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/characters