The Two Gentlemen of Verona understandable when one considers the cultural and social "milieu" of the play itself. Language is of primary importance in the play insofar as Valentine and Proteus speak in blank verse, but Launce and Speed speak (for the most part) in prose. More specifically, the actual content of many of the speeches serve to illustrate the pompousness of Valentine and Proteus' exalted outlook, and the more realistic and practical outlook of the servants. This is most apparent in Act 3, Scene 1. Valentine has just given a lengthy speech lamenting his banishment and musing on how he cannot possibly survive without
Proteus (bacterium) Proteus (bacterium) Proteus is a genus of Gram-negative Proteobacteria. "Proteus" bacilli are widely distributed in nature as saprophytes, being found in decomposing animal matter, sewage, manure soil, the mammalian intestine, and human and animal feces. They are opportunistic pathogens, commonly responsible for urinary and septic infections, often nosocomial. Three species—"P. vulgaris", "P. mirabilis", and "P. penneri"—are opportunistic human pathogens. "Proteus" includes pathogens responsible for many human urinary tract infections. "P. mirabilis" causes wound and urinary tract infections. Most strains of "P. mirabilis" are sensitive to ampicillin and cephalosporins. "P. vulgaris" is not sensitive to these antibiotics. However, this organism is