Silvia: The Woman Everyone Wants

    Duke of Milan's daughter, Valentine's love·The Two Gentlemen of Verona
    love
    constancy
    female agency

    First appears: Act 2, Scene 1

    Silvia has one of the most famous songs written about her ('Who is Silvia? what is she, That all our swains commend her?'), performed for her by Proteus's musicians. She is not terribly interested.

    She is intelligent and loyal. She rejects Proteus's advances with consistent clarity. She has Valentine's letter delivered back to him by the same hand he used to deliver it, telling him, without saying so, that she knows it is for her.

    She has no say in the play's final resolution. Valentine gets her because Proteus repents and the Duke changes his mind. She does not speak after the forest scene.

    Key Scenes

    Famous Quotes

    Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man!

    SilviaAct 4, Scene 2

    Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.

    SilviaAct 5, Scene 4

    Themes

    Other Characters in The Two Gentlemen of Verona