# Poet — Timon of Athens character guide

> Poet in Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Poet Admirable, Poet Sir

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Who they are

A sycophantic poet who flatters Timon for patronage but later abandons him.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

The Poet is a sycophantic writer who praises Timon for gifts but later betrays him.

### [Painter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/painter)

_professional_

The Painter and Poet are fellow flatterers and competitors for Timon's patronage, collaborating and betraying together.

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

_rivalry_

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

### [Painter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/painter)

_professional_

The Painter and Poet are fellow flatterers and competitors for Timon's patronage, collaborating and betraying together.

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

_professional_

The Poet is a sycophantic writer who praises Timon for gifts but later betrays him.

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

_professional_

The Poet is a sycophantic writer who praises Timon for gifts but later betrays him.

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

_rivalry_

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

### [Painter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/painter)

_professional_

The Painter and Poet are fellow flatterers and competitors for Timon's patronage, collaborating and betraying together.

## In the story

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

Presents a poem and allegory about Fortune's favor and reversal, flattering Timon.

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

The Poet arrives with the Painter, feigning loyalty and offering a satire on flattery, but Timon sees through his greed and drives him away with blows.

## Links

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