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Date Posted: 21:22:17 03/09/08 Sun
Author: Kiernan
Subject: Shakespeare's Timon of Athens

As Girard points out, Shakespeare is emminently conscious of the workings of mimetic rivalry. In his "Timon of Athens," he takes a close look at that in the relationship between an (almost outrageously) magnanimou man and a misanthrope. At the beginning of the play, Timon, a rich man who loves all mankind, is juxtaposed with the cynical philosopher Apemantus. They compete in everything, deliberately provoking each other with their different viewpoints. Apemantus makes their rivalry - and its dangers - evident when he says, "“I stay at thine apperil, Timon. I come to observe; I give thee warning on’t” (1.2.33-34). Apemantus observes his rival in order to imitate him - and such imitation is dangerous for him.

Timon then experiences abandonment by all of his friends. He begins to hate all mankind, like his rival Apemantus, and his actions begin to imitate him. He finally moves to the woods to separate himself from mankind. When Apemantus discovers him, he says, "do not assume my likeness," but Timon denies any element of imitation in his choices (4.3.220). The scene degenerates into a mutual cursing contest in which both Apemantus and Timon no longer sound different. Timon ends the scene by telling Apemantus to go away and die, yet he follows that wish with "I am quit," recognizing that their lives are now bound in one and, in wishing for Apemantus' death, he is wishing for his own (4.3.401).

With this relationship, Shakespeare brilliantly demonstrates the way in which rivals become the same and descend into endless rivalry which can only end in death.

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