# Alcibiades — Timon of Athens character guide

> Alcibiades in Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0001-act-i

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Timon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/timon)

_friendship_

Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against Athens.

### [Apemantus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/apemantus)

_social_

Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.

### [Apemantus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/apemantus)

_social_

Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.

### [Timon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/timon)

_friendship_

Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against Athens.

### [Apemantus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/apemantus)

_social_

Alcibiades and Apemantus share a mutual disdain for Athenian hypocrisy, though their methods differ.

## In the story

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

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

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

Attends the banquet, expresses his loyalty to Timon, and jokes about preferring enemies at a feast.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Present with Timon but leaves when creditors arrive.

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

Pleads for his friend's life before the Senate, is banished, and vows revenge.

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

Mentioned as having been banished from Athens.

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

Visits Timon with his army and companions, receives gold, and is urged to wage total war on Athens.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Mentioned as leading the army against Athens and sending letters to Timon for support.

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

Referenced as the captain to whom the soldier will bring the inscription; he is set against Athens.

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

Leads his army to Athens, negotiates with the Senators, and learns of Timon's death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/alcibiades
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters