How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #4
TIMON:
Nothing I'll bear from thee,
But nakedness, thou detestable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!
Timon will to the woods. (4.1.32-35)
Timon wails at the city gates as he leaves Athens because—let's face it—he doesn't really have any other cards to play. We're interested in how he wants to rid himself of everything—and we mean everything—from Athens. He even takes off his clothes, because that's how much he wants to be alone and forget everyone and everything else. Also, symbolism alert: when somebody strips pretty much naked on stage, it probably means that they're going through some kind of transformation or identity change.
Quote #5
SECOND SERVANT:
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows. (4.2.13-15)
As the servants gather and say their goodbyes before leaving Timon's house, we hear one of the them despondently say these lines. We suddenly realize this isn't just about Timon isolating himself from society; his servants are totally left up the creek without a paddle, as well. They are also alone, but nobody seems to give them even a second thought.
Quote #6
TIMON:
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone. (4.3.99-100)
We pity the fool who thinks he can befriend Timon. After all, this is Timon's response when Alcibiades calls him a friend. Yikes. Timon lays it all out pretty clearly: he doesn't want any company. Why is Timon so extreme about all of this? Why does he have to reject everybody?