This is the story of Timon, a wealthy landowner in Athens, who gives away all his wealth to his friends, throwing parties, and supporting artists and politicians. When debt collectors begin to harass him, Timon applies to his friends for help, but they make up excuses and no one will loan him the money he needs. He becomes a misanthrope, and forsakes his life, his city, and his so-called friends, for a destitute life in the wilderness.

What a cheerful play! Everyone happy and cheerful and kind! Ha ha! Just kidding. This is quite a depressing tragedy, with no glimmer of happiness anywhere in it.

In the beginning Timon is fooled by his so-called friends' flattering words, and in the end Timon loses all faith in mankind, and hates everyone. He's a very dumb character. Despite repeated warnings from his faithful steward that he was losing his fortune, he continues to spend more than he has, wasting his money on people who don't really care about him, and not even bothering to keep track of his resources, his finances, or any of his business affairs. He deserved to lose his fortune, since he managed it so very badly. I have no pity for such idiocy. He didn't even try to be frugal, or even be aware of his own financial circumstances. He's just an irresponsible party boy who went off into the wilderness to pout when he lost his fortune.

The best part of this play is the riotous insulting matches that happened between several of the misanthropic characters, each vying to see who can insult the other, and inflict the most verbal damage. Some of Shakespeare's best insults can be found in this play!