LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Concordia Lutheran Seminary

12 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW XII
5. Avarice
“A greedy man brings trouble.” (Prov. 15:27)
Timon of Athens
This tragedy is like a parable in its schematic structure. It is about a rich
man, Timon, whose greed for status blinds him to the reality that greed for
possessions is motivating his so-called friends. As the play opens, Timon
pays the debts of a friend but is warned by the cynical philosopher
Apemantus, “He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer” (I.i.225-
26). Heedless, Timon throws a banquet, staged in one production like the
Last Supper, with Timon surrounded by Judases. Flavius, Timon’s good and
faithful servant, warns his master of depleted funds. Creditors clamour for
payment. The bankrupt Timon exclaims in his vanity, “I am wealthy in my
friends” (II.ii.184).
Of course each friend, in turn, refuses to help. “Cut my heart in sums,”
cries the enraged Timon (III.iv.92). Alcibiades, Timon’s true friend, pleads
with the Athenian Senate for mercy. They banish him, and he plans war
against them. Meanwhile Timon has planned a second banquet. The guests
arrive and Timon, after offering a cynical prayer, uncovers the dishes—plain
water! He throws both water and dishes at the startled guests, driving them
out and saying, “Most smiling, smoothe, detested parasites” (III.vi.94). The
embittered Timon curses Athens as he leaves for the woods. Now a complete
misanthrope, Timon forages for food and digs roots to eat. One day in his
digging he finds the root of all evil, a large quantity of gold. But he despises
it: “This yellow slave / Will knit and break religions” (IV.iii.34-35).
Alcibiades happens by with his army en route to Athens. Even though his
men are deserting for lack of pay, he offers financial aid to Timon. Instead,
Timon gives gold to his old friend, wishing disaster upon his former home.
Word gets out that Timon is rich again, and streams of sycophants come to
visit. Timon curses them all, even the Senators who now appeal to him for
mercy. Alciabiades is more temperate that Timon, and reaches an agreement
with the Senators to spare the innocent and exact vengeance only upon his
and Timon’s enemies. It is too late for Timon; he dies and is buried under a
mocking epitaph.
Timon begins in wealth and ends in wretched poverty. Jesus Christ was
born in a manger, but “God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him
the name that is above every name” (Phil.2:9).