How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
APEMANTUS:
I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should
ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of
men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me
to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood;
and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow that sits
next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the
breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest
man to kill him: 't has been proved. If I were a
huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats. (1.2.37-51)
Here, Apemantus is sharing his pessimistic thoughts with Timon at the banquet. What interests us is the way he thinks that these people are metaphorically eating and drinking Timon himself by hanging around him all the time.
Quote #2
APEMANTUS:
Here's that which is too weak to
be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This and my food are equals; there's no odds:
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods […]
Rich men sin, and I eat root. (1.2.56-60, 70)
Apemantus might be at Timon's banquet, but he still takes the opportunity to point out Timon's folly in overspending. His cynicism actually foreshadows what will happen to his host: in the end, Timon does eat roots and dig for food. Timon doesn't know it yet, but Apemantus is right: the actual components that make up the feast (water, vegetables, meat) are the same for a beggar and a rich man.
Quote #3
APEMANTUS:
No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,
there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then
thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,
Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in
paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and
vain-glories? (1.2.243-247)
We'll be the first to admit that Apemantus is a party-pooper. He's at Timon's house, eating and drinking, when he asks Timon this thought-provoking question. Timon always throws lavish parties with all-you-can-eat banquets, and Apemantus wants to know what the deal is. Is he insecure about his friendships? Does he want to show off his wealth? Is the way to a man's heart really through his stomach? We're not sure what the answer is, but Apemantus is right about so much, at least when it comes to Timon, that we suspect he's probably onto something when he questions Timon's motives.