Antipholus of Syracuse is a young man who is searching for his twin brother, also named Antipholus. The twins were separated in a shipwreck in which he also lost his mother. Antipholus grew up in the care of his father, Egeon, in the city of Syracuse and was called Antipholus in memory of his brother. At age 18, he became curious about his missing brother and left home to find his mother and twin, along with his servant Dromio. At the start of the play, he arrives in Ephesus feeling more lost than ever. When Antipholus of Syracuse becomes increasingly mistaken for his twin, he does not understand and gets more unsettled. He thinks Ephesus is a city of witchcraft but he does fall in love with Luciana.
Facts we learn about Antipholus of Syracuse at the start of the play :
- He is the son of Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse.
- His mother and twin brother were lost in a shipwreck.
- He is curious about his twin and left home at 18 to find him.
- His servant, another twin called Dromio, left with him, and they have a close relationship.
- He has been missing for five years.
Things they say:
'So I, to find a mother and a brother, / In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.’ (1:2)
Antipholus has spent so long searching for half his family, he has lost a sense of himself and feels hopeless and vulnerable.
'If you will jest with me, know my aspect, / And fashion your demeanour to my looks, / Or I will beat this method in your sconce.’ (2:2)
Antipholus needs Dromio to be sensitive to his moods and joke only when he can take it.
‘Thee will I love, and with thee lead my life; /Thou hast no husband yet nor I no wife’ (3:2)
Antipholus is capable of giving his heart away very quickly.
Things others say about them:
'My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, / At eighteen years became inquisitive / After his brother’ (Egeon 1:1)
Antipholus is well loved by Egeon but left home when he became curious about his twin.
‘I am glad to see you in this merry vein; / What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.’ (Dromio 2:2)
It is unusual for Antipholus to be angry with Dromio.
‘With words that in an honest suit might move.’ (Luciana 4:2)
Antipholus speaks the language of love very well.