# Apemantus — Timon of Athens character guide

> Apemantus in Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** gentle Apemantus, Apemantus Ay, Apemantus Ho, Apemantus Hoy, Apemantus That, Apemantus Toad

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

## Snapshot

A snarling philosopher who crashes Timon's feasts to insult the guests, the host, and humanity itself — and is proved right about all of them.

## Who they are

Apemantus accepts Timon's hospitality only to spit on it, calling the flatterers dogs and the banquet poison while everyone else smiles and eats. He is the play's professional truth-teller, and his churlishness raises the question the tragedy keeps asking: is honest misanthropy better than dishonest friendship? When Timon retreats to the woods, Apemantus follows — not to comfort him, but to test whether his new hatred is any more genuine than his old generosity.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Apemantus constantly mocks and criticizes Timon's naive generosity and later his misanthropy, serving as a cynical foil.

### [Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/fool)

_social_

Apemantus and the Fool exchange bitter witticisms and insults, reflecting the play's cynical tone.

### [Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/poet)

_rivalry_

Apemantus derides the Poet as a sycophant, engaging in verbal sparring.

### [Alcibiades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/alcibiades)

_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)

_rivalry_

Apemantus constantly mocks and criticizes Timon's naive generosity and later his misanthropy, serving as a cynical foil.

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

_rivalry_

Apemantus constantly mocks and criticizes Timon's naive generosity and later his misanthropy, serving as a cynical foil.

### [Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/fool)

_social_

Apemantus and the Fool exchange bitter witticisms and insults, reflecting the play's cynical tone.

### [Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/poet)

_rivalry_

Apemantus derides the Poet as a sycophant, engaging in verbal sparring.

### [Alcibiades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/alcibiades)

_social_

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

### [Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/fool)

_social_

Apemantus and the Fool exchange bitter witticisms and insults, reflecting the play's cynical tone.

### [Alcibiades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/alcibiades)

_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)

Cynically mocks the flatterers and Timon's generosity, refusing to dine with lords and calling out their hypocrisy.

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

Observes the feast with disdain, criticizes the flattery and greed of the guests, and warns Timon of their insincerity.

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

Engages in cynical banter with the fool and the creditors' servants, mocking their greed.

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

Finds Timon in the woods and engages in a bitter philosophical argument about misery, flattery, and human nature.

## Links

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