Timon of Athens · Character

Alcibiades

An Athenian captain whose loyalty to a condemned soldier gets him banished, sending him from Timon's banquet table to the gates of Athens at the head of an army.

supporting

Also known as Exeunt Alcibiades, Enter Alcibiades, wild Alcibiades, Timon Captain Alcibiades, Third Lord Alcibiades

First appearance: act i

As a supporting figure in Timon of Athens, Alcibiades is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Arrives with companions and is warmly welcomed by Timon for the feast.

In the storyScene IOpen this moment free

See Alcibiades in Scene I Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Alcibiades moves through the play's early scenes as a soldier among senators, honored at Timon's feast but already at odds with a city that prefers procedure to merit. His plea for a friend's life is refused, and the Senate's banishment turns a defender of Athens into its most feared enemy. His arc runs parallel to Timon's: both are cast out by the same ingratitude, but where Timon curses from a cave, Alcibiades marches back with a sword.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Alcibiades sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Alcibiades in act i

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Alcibiades sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

False friends and creditors
Protagonist

+15 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Timon’s discovery of gold triggers his emotional and psychological peak: a furious, misanthropic tirade agains…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Timon
friendship · positive
Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against… How this plays out →
Apemantus
social · ambivalent
Apemantus
social · ambivalent
Timon
friendship · positive
Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against… How this plays out →
Apemantus
social · ambivalent

Timon
Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against Athens.
Apemantus
Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.
Apemantus
Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.
Timon
Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against Athens.
Apemantus
Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Alcibiades in act i

In the story

Alcibiades appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
Arrives with companions and is warmly welcomed by Timon for the feast.
Scene II
Attends the banquet, expresses his loyalty to Timon, and jokes about preferring enemies at a feast.
Scene II
Present with Timon but leaves when creditors arrive.
Scene V
Pleads for his friend's life before the Senate, is banished, and vows revenge.
Scene VI
Mentioned as having been banished from Athens.
Scene III
Visits Timon with his army and companions, receives gold, and is urged to wage total war on Athens.
Scene II
Mentioned as leading the army against Athens and sending letters to Timon for support.
Scene III
Referenced as the captain to whom the soldier will bring the inscription; he is set against Athens.
Scene IV
Leads his army to Athens, negotiates with the Senators, and learns of Timon's death.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Alcibiades unlock in the free preview.

See Alcibiades in act i

See Alcibiades in Scene I