Timon of Athens is a problematic Shakespearian play in that it appears to have been left unfinished and the thrust of its underlying thematic nature is contested. It may have been written at more or less any period of Shakespeare’s career, although its lack of linguistic elegance and complexity suggests an earlier rather than a later period (although this has persuaded some people that this is because it was written someone other than Shakespeare or by him in partnership with someone else). It is one of Shakespeare’s least known, least loved and least performed plays.

The plot concerns the eponymous Athenian protagonist who is initially a rich and happy resident of the city. The play begins with a lavish party that Timon gives and during which he gives away gifts and money to his various guests. It is clear that Timon is known for this tendency and he basks in the friendship that he feels he receives as a result of his role of benefactor. Alas for him, the situation soon changes because his largesse leaves him with a cash flow problem and, when creditors arrive at the house demanding immediate payment, Timon dispatches his servants to ask for repayments from his friends. Inevitably, all of his so-called friends refuse to help and Timon is pitched out of his house. He resolves to live in the forest and adopts a misanthropic attitude as part of which he makes a variety of speeches condemning humanity, the people of Athens and the world in general.

Fortune changes again, however, since Timon stumbles across a hoard of underground treasure and is again rich. Athenian ambassadors, among others, come to try to tempt him to return to civilization but Timon is adamant in his misanthropy (despite receiving evidence of the genuine friendship of one Flavius, although this evidence is unfortunately compromised since Flavius is Timon’s servant). Instead, he gives the money to the rebel Alcibiades who will use it to conquer the city and to some sex workers who he hopes will spread venereal disease among the good citizens of Athens. Having achieved these last acts of churlishness, Timon dies with more curses on his lips and the play ends. There are some more sub-plots but these are so slight as to offer little to the body of the play.

Bertolt Brecht considered the play to be a form of experimental theatre and pointed out the unusual structure and ending in support of this claim. Although it is divided into the customary five acts and written in the conventional verse form, the division appears to be arbitrary and alternative means of organisation seem just as possible. However, it is difficult to imagine that any high profile staging of the play could be successful in the contemporary theatre.