Brave and noble cousins, Palamon and Arcite, are taken prisoner after a bitter battle between Athens and Thebes. The men resign themselves to their fate as happy captives - until they catch sight of Duke Theseus' beautiful daughter Emilia and both immediately fall in love. Their life-long friendship is soon marred by rivalry over Emilia’s affections - a thing made more complicated by the fact that Emilia doesn’t really want either of them. Meanwhile, the daughter of the jailer has fallen for Palamon, and will go to any lengths to help him and win his love.
This story of a classic love triangle is based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, with some notable additions and deviations. This fast-paced tragi-comical romance uses the action of wrestling matches, tournaments and duels to explore murky moral themes surrounding friendship, loyalty, choice and fate.
The Two Noble Kinsmen guide sections
