The Two Noble Kinsmen: Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

Palamon and Arcite remain above. Although they make light of their situation, Palamon fears that they’ll be prisoners forever. Arcite agrees, noting that he has resigned himself to accepting this fate. Palamon anxiously wonders about their “noble country” of Thebes, and their friends and family who live there. He wonders if they’ll ever return, and laments, “O, never / Shall we two exercise, like twins of honor, / Our arms again, and feel our fiery horses / Like proud seas under us.”

Arcite commiserates with Palamon, mourning the fact that they’re wasting their youths in prison. Worst of all, they’ll die without ever marrying or experiencing love. Arcite imagines the songs the maidens will sing about their exile, “curs[ing] ever-blinded Fortune” for the punishment she has inflicted upon them. Palamon agrees with Arcite. Furthermore, they won’t be able to engage in noble battles ever again, which will cause their inner sense of duty and bravery to diminish over time.

While they are right to bemoan their dismal futures, Arcite reminds Palamon that their cell cannot be a prison so long as they have each other. Palamon agrees and expresses how lucky they are that “[their] fortunes / Were twined together.” Arcite suggests the cousins make the best of their situation and “think this prison holy sanctuary.” Remaining in prison enables them to continue down an honorable path and not be led astray by temptation. Furthermore, it prevents outside factors like war, women, business, or quarrels from coming between their friendship. Palamon thanks Arcite for comforting him. He adds that it’s actually a positive thing that “the loving gods found this place for [them],” because, had they remained in Creon’s corrupt and wicked court, they almost certainly would have become corrupt and wicked themselves.

Palamon and Arcite continue to praise their friendship. Arcite insists that even after they die, their spirits will remain intertwined. Just then, Emilia and her Woman enter below. Emilia asks about a specific flower, and her Woman tells her the flower is a Narcissus. Emilia scoffs at Narcissus, who was “but a fool / To love himself” when so many women were after him. Emilia instantly catches Palamon and Arcite’s attention. They listen for her to continue speaking. Emilia and her Woman joke about Narcissus and good looks, and Emilia cautions her servant to be wary of men, who “are mad things.”

Arcite notices something is up with Palamon and asks what’s bothering him. Palamon replies, “Never till now I was in prison, Arcite,” and proclaims Emilia to be “a goddess.” Arcite laughs, but Palamon doesn’t budge. Emilia continues to browse the flowers with her Woman and remarks how she likes roses best, because they are “the very emblem of a maid.” She explains that “when the west win courts her gently,” she responds “modestly,” and “with chaste blushes.” However, when the north wind jostles her briskly, “then, like chastity, / She licks her beauties in her bud again.” Now Arcite is intrigued, and he admits that Emilia is very beautiful.

Emilia and her Woman move inside. Palamon and Arcite rave about Emilia’s beauty. When they both admit to falling in love with her, Palamon insists that Emilia is his to love because he saw her first. Arcite claims this is irrelevant and cleverly proposes an arrangement for them both to love Emilia: Palamon will “worship her” as “a blessed goddess,” and Arcite will “love her as a woman.” Palamon refuses. He maintains that Emilia is his and that Arcite is a traitor if he tries to make a move. 

Arcite insists that he has just as much a right to love Emilia as Palamon does. He claims that he’s always been a faithful friend to Palamon and insinuates that Palamon’s rage is unjustified. Furthermore, since, as close friends, they experience each other’s emotions, it makes no sense for one of them “to love alone.” In short, Palamon is behaving quite “unlike a noble kinsmen” when he insists that only he may love Emilia. Palamon tells Arcite that while he is free to feel love for Emilia, it would be wrong to act on that love. Arcite counters this, asking whether it would be acceptable not to charge an enemy and lose one’s honor because another soldier spotted the enemy first. Palamon refuses to play along and tells Arcite that if he pursues Emilia, he “Be as that cursed man that hates his country, / A branded villain.” Arcite tells Palamon he’s behaving childishly and illogically.

Palamon wishes he and Arcite were free so they could engage in a duel. He threatens to kill Arcite if he looks out the window at Emilia one more time. Arcite smugly tells Palamon he’ll jump out the window and into Emilia’s arms—just to anger Palamon.

Palamon continues to fume. The Jailer enters and tells Arcite that Theseus expects him. They depart. Alone in his cell, Palamon anguishes about why Theseus has sent for Arcite. He wonders if Theseus has noticed Arcite’s noble appearance and selected him to marry Emilia. Palamon directs his attention toward the garden outside his cell and longs to be a tree that could bear fruit for Emilia to eat.

The Jailer enters above and tells Palamon that Theseus has released Arcite on the condition that he never steps foot in Athens again. Palamon bemoans Arcite’s luck: now that he’s free, he can prove himself “a worthy lover” of Emilia by exhibiting bravery in battle—all out of spite toward Palamon.

The Jailer interrupts Palamon’s brooding to order him to back away from the window. Palamon begs the Jailer to let him see the garden, but the Jailer says no and threatens to put him in chains if he doesn’t back away from the window. Palamon bemoans his wretched existence and longs for death.