After squandering his wealth with prodigal extravagance, a rich Athenian philanthropist finds himself deep in debt. He is certain that the friends he has showered with riches will come to his aid, but instead they turn their backs on him and he sinks into bitterness, at war with the world. Incisive and often scathingly funny, Shakespeare's parable of power and greed shows the folly of mankind in thrall to money.