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Act 5, Scene 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Two Noble Kinsmen, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love and Irrationality
Fate, Fortune, and Divine Providence
Chivalry, Honor, and Pride
Friendship
Gender and Power
Summary
Analysis
The Doctor and the Jailer enter a room in the prison, followed by the Wooer, who is disguised as Palamon. The Doctor asks the Wooer for updates on the Jailer’s Daughter’s condition. The Wooer happily reports that her friends have convinced her he is Palamon, and she’s begun to behave affectionately toward him. The Doctor reminds the Wooer to humor the Jailer’s Daughter in every way possible—even if she asks him to have sex with her. This causes the Jailer to stir, but the Doctor reminds him that they must do whatever is necessary to cure his daughter. The Jailer insists it’s more important to protect his daughter’s virginity than her sanity, but the Doctor is adamant and orders the Jailer to fetch his daughter.
The gods appear to reward the Wooer for his noble efforts in supporting the Jailer's Daughter, considering that she’s warming up to him and is on the road to recovery. The Jailer’s initial hesitance to risk spoiling his daughter’s supposed purity reflects the sexist norms of the time, implying that the Jailer values his daughter’s purity more than her sanity.
Themes
After the Jailer leaves, the Doctor grumbles about his foolishness and insinuates that the Jailer’s Daughter might not be a virgin anyway. The Doctor reminds the Wooer to “please her appetite” in whatever way possible. The Wooer promises to do just that.
It's unclear what the Doctor’s comment about the Jailer’s Daughter not being a virgin alludes to—perhaps she and Palamon engaged in a sexual affair before she freed him from prison. This would further complicate Palamon’s status as a truly noble character. The idea that the Wooer might have to “please her appetite” to cure her provides a comedic effect. It also shows that although the Wooer is doing a noble thing by sticking with the Jailer’s Daughter, his actions are not entirely selfless since he clearly stands to benefit from them, as well.
Themes
Elsewhere, the Jailer approaches The Jailer’s Daughter and tells her “Palamon” is here to see her. This news pleases the Jailer’s Daughter, and she asks her father if he’s seen the horse Palamon gave her. The Jailer humors her and says he has. The Jailer’s Daughter starts talking nonsensically about the horse’s talent for dancing the morris and his ability to gallop to the beat of music. The Jailer asks if the horse can read, write, and play tennis, too, and the Jailer's Daughter enthusiastically confirms that the horse does have these talents. Next, the Jailer’s Daughter tells the Jailer that one of Theseus’s mares is in love with her horse, who remains “coy” and unreceptive to the mare’s love because he could have any horse he wants.
The Jailer’s Daughter’s nonsensical story about the horses is yet another example of her idealization of Palamon. The horse she claims Palamon gave her symbolizes Palamon himself. The Jailer’s Daughter insinuates that this horse breaks the heart of any horse who loves him because he is universally desirable and could have any horse he chooses. Her nonsensical story suggests that while her condition is improving, as evidence by her warming up to “Palamon” (the Wooer), it's clear she remains quite reliant on her romantic fantasies.
Themes
The Wooer and the Doctor step forward, and the Wooer (as Palamon) greets the Jailer’s Daughter. They discuss their wedding and banter playfully back and forth. The Jailer’s Daughter points toward the Doctor and asks if he’s Palamon’s cousin, Arcite. Everyone plays along. The Jailer’s Daughter excitedly prattles on about the many children she and Palamon will have together.
One has to wonder what the men in the Jailer’s Daughter’s life consider to be a sign that she is “cured” of her madness. She has a more cheerful disposition now and accepts the Wooer’s courtship, but she remains completely wrapped up in her fantasy world, as evidenced by her continuing to not recognize her father or the doctor and her belief that the Wooer is actually Palamon. It appears that so long as she rewards the Wooer’s efforts and doesn't cause trouble for any of the men, they are content to let her exist in a state of delusion.
Themes
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A messenger enters the room to alert the Jailer to the battle that’s about to take place between Arcite and Palamon. As the Jailer and the Doctor prepare to leave, the Doctor reminds the Wooer to do anything the Jailer’s Daughter says. The Wooer invites the Jailer’s Daughter to dine with him and, per her request, promises to kiss her over 100 times. When she asks to sleep together, the Wooer replies, “yes, marry, we will” and promises never to hurt her.
The Wooer further demonstrates his noble character by promising never to hurt the Jailer’s Daughter, which is more than Palamon, an actual nobleman, can say.
Themes
