No man is an island, but a lot of men in this play sure try to be. Timon runs off into the woods by himself to be away from society; Alcibiades is banished from Athens and forced to live by himself (or with a couple of prostitutes); Apemantus seems to want to rid himself of just about anyone and everyone.
In some cases, exile from society brings anxiety or terror; in others, it highlights the worst of mankind. Timon of Athens asks some hard questions about society and life within it: what happens when your society is corrupt, and you no longer want to live within it? Is it possible to live completely apart from anyone else? How different are voluntary and involuntary exile, and why do they happen in the first place?
Questions About Exile and Isolation
- Do the characters find peace or rest when they isolate themselves, or does this isolation bring more pain and suffering?
- Who is lonely in the play and why? Are there any characters who are not alienated from others in one way or another?
- Why does Timon isolate himself from everyone else? Does he enjoy anyone's company when people come to visit him in the woods?
- What's the deal with Apemantus isolating himself from everyone, even at parties? Does he really want to be isolated when he surrounds himself with others?
Chew on This
Apemantus always isolates himself as a way of protecting himself from getting hurt.
All Timon wants is isolation, but he must suffer through people visiting him constantly.