The Two Gentlemen of Verona

In Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Valentine seeks to be educated in the ways of the world and travels with his servant, Speed, from Verona to Milan – where he falls in love with a Duke’s daughter (Silvia) who he is too poor to marry. Proteus, also banished from Verona, learns that they plan to elope and tells the Duke as he himself becomes enamoured of Silvia. Valentine is banished and becomes head of a select band of outlaws. Meanwhile, Julia, who Proteus had loved, has followed him disguised as a boy is employed by Proteus to take love messages to Silvia. At this point it gets complicated!