In “Ovid, Rape, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” William Carroll’s understanding of Proteus and Valentine hinges on the premise that “the two gentlemen [are] in essence one man split into two parallel but distinct figures” (57), and within his thesis of their Ovidian objectification of women, I agree with that premise. However, when it comes to their views of love itself, Proteus’ aggression in his love for Silvia is more than a foil to Valentine’s courtly love for the same woman; it demonstrates that Proteus’ self-indulgence – his love for himself – was always the love that drove him, and unlike friendship or romantic affection, he could satisfy that love without becoming a more virtuous person.
Proteus’ introduction belies his characterization over the course of the narrative: at first he seems to be presented as a romantic whose rosy worldview revolves around the transformative power of love, a foil to Valentine’s more practical man of the world. …show more content…
In an intriguing reversal of roles, while Valentine fervently praises Silvia, Proteus is now the one who tries to temper Valentine’s fawning adoration, but unlike Valentine, who in the first act spoke out of sincere concern for his friend, Proteus’ motives are less than selfless. Revealing to the audience that he too has fallen in love with Silvia, Proteus bemoans that “methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold, and that I love him not as I was wont. O, but that I love his lady too too much, and that’s the reason I love him so little” (37). The truth is that, from the beginning, Proteus has in love with no one and nothing so much as himself, and counts nothing more important than appeasing his own desires. In fact, his understanding of his moral failure – towards his friend and his fiancée – makes his decision to continually act on his urges even more worthy of
Proteus’ introduction belies his characterization over the course of the narrative: at first he seems to be presented as a romantic whose rosy worldview revolves around the transformative power of love, a foil to Valentine’s more practical man of the world. …show more content…
In an intriguing reversal of roles, while Valentine fervently praises Silvia, Proteus is now the one who tries to temper Valentine’s fawning adoration, but unlike Valentine, who in the first act spoke out of sincere concern for his friend, Proteus’ motives are less than selfless. Revealing to the audience that he too has fallen in love with Silvia, Proteus bemoans that “methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold, and that I love him not as I was wont. O, but that I love his lady too too much, and that’s the reason I love him so little” (37). The truth is that, from the beginning, Proteus has in love with no one and nothing so much as himself, and counts nothing more important than appeasing his own desires. In fact, his understanding of his moral failure – towards his friend and his fiancée – makes his decision to continually act on his urges even more worthy of