Allusions to Greek Mythology in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Allusions to Greek mythology in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

LEANDER: A character in Greek mythology who swam the Hellespont to reach love.

In the beginning of the play Valentine and Proteus have differing opinions of love. Valentine thinks the love of Leander is shallow but Proteus thinks it is deep love.

Valentine: That's on some shallow story of deep love,

How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.

Proteus: That's a deep story of deeper love,

And yet you never swam the Hellespont.

Leander in mentioned twice. Once in the beginning of the play where Valentine says Leanders love is nothing great and later with reference to Valentine trying to explain to Duke how to climb a ladder to reach his love. Leander was trying to reach a character called Hero.

Valentine: Why then a ladder quaintly made of cords

To cast up, with a pair of anchoring hooks.

Would serve to scale another Hero's tower.

So bold Leander would adventure it.

CUPID: the Roman God of love is referenced at the beginning of the play in the conversation between Valentine and Proteus about love.

Proteus: Tis love you cavil at. I am not Love

PHAETON is a character in Greek mythology who was killed when trying to drive the heavenly car the chariot of the sun. He lost control and scorched the earth. He was fathered by Apollo but his mother was married to Merops.

Duke calls Valentine Phaeton for trying to elope with Sylvia.

Duke: Tis so here is the ladder for the purpose why Phaeton for thou art Merops son

Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car.

And with the daring folly burn the world? s

ORPHEUS was a musician in Greek mythology. The power of his music over wild animals and even inanimate objects is described.

Proteus tells Thurio that the way to court or lure Sylvia was by reciting poetry in an intense heavenly way. Proteus cites the example of Orpheus whose music was capable of taming animals. 

Proteus: ....For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets sinews. 

Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones. 

Make tigers game and huge leviathans forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.