In this early romantic comedy, Shakespeare presents the remarkable courtships of two young couples. When the action opens, Proteus is head-over-heels in love with Julia. His father believes that Proteus is only wasting time at home and sends him to the Duke's court in the hope that there Proteus will gain the experience he will need to be a man. At court Proteus rejoins his longtime friend Valentine, who has fallen in love with the Duke's daughter, Silvia. Proteus, forgetting Julia, immediately becomes infatuated with Silvia and promptly gets his friend Valentine in trouble with the Duke, who banishes Valentine. In the meantime, Julia, disguised as a boy, has set out for the court and for Proteus,while Silvia sets out to find the exiled Valentine. The complications that need to be resolved before the couples can look toward marriage include capture by a band of thieves and pursuit by an angry Duke.
