# Timon — Timon of Athens character guide > Timon in Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lord Timon, the Lord Timon, Old Athenian, Great Timon, Timon Painting, Second Lord **First appearance:** 0000-timon-of-athens ## Snapshot Athens's most open-handed lord, whose lavish gifts buy him a city of friends — until the money runs out and the friends do too. ## Who they are Timon presides over Athens as its great patron, hosting banquets, settling debts, and dispensing gold with a generosity so absolute it looks like love. His flaw is not merely extravagance but a refusal to imagine scarcity or ingratitude: he trusts the arithmetic of friendship to balance itself. When his steward Flavius finally shows him the ledger, the play pivots from comedy of excess into the most savage study of betrayal in Shakespeare — and Timon's fall is the engine of everything that follows. ## Relationships ### [Apemantus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/apemantus) _rivalry_ Apemantus constantly mocks and criticizes Timon's naive generosity and later his misanthropy, serving as a cynical foil. ### [Servilius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/servilius) _professional_ Servilius is Timon's loyal servant who carries out his master's commands and later witnesses his downfall. ### [First Senator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/first_senator) _social_ The First Senator represents the ungrateful Athenian elite who refuse to help Timon when he is in need. ### [Timandra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/timandra) _social_ Timandra is a courtesan associated with Alcibiades, interacting with Timon during his misanthropic phase. ### [Painter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/painter) _professional_ The Painter is a flattering artist who seeks Timon's patronage but abandons him when his wealth is gone. ### [Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/poet) _professional_ The Poet is a sycophantic writer who praises Timon for gifts but later betrays him. ### [Flaminius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/flaminius) _professional_ Flaminius is one of Timon's faithful servants, deeply distressed by his master's ruin. ### [Flavius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/flavius) _professional_ Flavius is Timon's honest steward who tries to warn him about his overspending and remains loyal. ### [Alcibiades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/alcibiades) _friendship_ Alcibiades is a military commander and friend to Timon, later siding with him against Athens. ### [Sempronius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/sempronius) _social_ Sempronius is one of Timon's false friends who refuses to lend him money when asked. ### [Servilius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/servilius) _professional_ Servilius is Timon's loyal servant who carries out his master's commands and later witnesses his downfall. ### [First Senator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/first_senator) _social_ The First Senator represents the ungrateful Athenian elite who refuse to help Timon when he is in need. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Shows prodigal generosity by paying Ventidius's debt and endowing Lucilius's marriage; welcomes flatterers and prepares for a feast. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Hosts the banquet, gives lavish gifts, refuses repayment from Ventidius, and expresses boundless trust in his friends. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Referenced as the debtor whose lavish spending and unpaid debts worry the Senator. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Confronted by creditors but remains optimistic about his friends' support; sends servants to borrow money. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Referenced as the one seeking help; all his friends have denied him. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv) Confronts creditors with fury, then resolves to host another feast. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi) Hosts the last feast, exposes his false friends, and curses them and Athens. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Timon curses Athens and its people, renouncing civilization and retreating to the woods in a state of profound misanthropy. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii) Now calling himself Misanthropos, Timon curses mankind and Athens, gives gold to Alcibiades, and discovers more gold while digging for roots. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Timon is now a bitter recluse living in a cave. He rejects the senators' pleas, exposes the Poet and Painter as gold-seeking sycophants, and delivers a final, misanthropic refusal to help Athens. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Referenced as the one Alcibiades seeks to recruit; the Senators report no hope of his return. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Found dead in the woods; his tomb is discovered by the soldier. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv) Reported dead; his epitaph is read, revealing his enduring hatred for humanity. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters/timon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/timon_of_athens_se/characters