8.3 Adaptation of Greek New Comedy in Plautus' works

Greek and Roman comedies share themes like love, trickery, and family dynamics. But Plautus spices things up with more slapstick, bawdy humor, and Roman-specific jokes. His plays are like Greek comedies with a Roman twist.

Plautus takes Greek plays and gives them a Roman makeover. He changes names, settings, and cultural references to fit Roman tastes. He also cranks up the comedy, adding more wordplay, physical gags, and music to keep the audience laughing.

Themes in Greek vs Plautine comedy

Themes in Greek vs Plautine comedy

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Similarities in themes:

• Explore love and romance as central plot elements (star-crossed lovers)
• Feature trickery and deception as characters scheme to achieve their goals (clever slaves)
• Delve into family dynamics and relationships, often focusing on conflicts between generations (stern fathers, rebellious sons)
• Highlight social class and status as key factors in character interactions and plot development (wealthy elites, poor citizens) Differences in themes:
• Plautus places greater emphasis on physical humor and slapstick comedy, incorporating more pratfalls and exaggerated gestures (characters being chased, falling down)
• Incorporates more bawdy and sexual humor, often featuring innuendos and double entendres (puns about anatomy)
• Often includes political and social commentary specific to Roman society, satirizing contemporary issues and institutions (corrupt politicians, legal system) Similarities in characters:
• Utilize stock characters such as the clever slave, young lovers, and stern father, each with distinct personality traits and roles in the plot (cunning slave, lovestruck youth)
• Feature characters often driven by love, greed, or self-interest, leading to conflicts and comedic situations (miserly old man, ambitious courtesan) Differences in characters:
• Plautus' characters are more exaggerated and caricatured, with heightened personality traits and quirks (braggart soldier, gluttonous parasite)
• Often gives his clever slave characters more prominent roles and agency in the plot, serving as the driving force behind the action (slaves masterminding schemes)
• Female characters tend to be more assertive and independent compared to their Greek counterparts, challenging traditional gender roles (outspoken matrons, resourceful courtesans)

Plautus' adaptation of Greek sources

Romanization of Greek settings and characters:

• Changes Greek names to Roman names, making the characters more relatable to Roman audiences (Dionysus becomes Bacchus)
• Sets plays in Roman cities or colonies, transplanting the action to a familiar context (Athens becomes Ephesus)
• Incorporates Roman cultural references and allusions, such as mentioning Roman deities or customs (invoking Jupiter instead of Zeus) Amplification of comedic elements:
• Increases the use of puns, wordplay, and verbal humor, exploiting the flexibility of the Latin language (homophones, double meanings)
• Exaggerates physical comedy and slapstick routines, adding more elaborate and outrageous gags (characters disguising themselves, engaging in acrobatics)
• Adds more musical and sung passages to the plays, capitalizing on the Roman appreciation for music and spectacle (characters breaking into song, accompanied by instruments) Inclusion of Roman social and political commentary:
• References current events, public figures, and social issues relevant to Roman audiences, grounding the plays in contemporary reality (mentioning recent wars, political scandals)
• Satirizes Roman institutions, such as the legal system or military, exposing their flaws and absurdities (corrupt judges, incompetent generals)
• Comments on the relationships between social classes in Roman society, highlighting the tensions and power dynamics (wealthy patrons, impoverished clients)

Roman values in Plautine comedy

Portrayal of family dynamics:

• Emphasizes the authority of the paterfamilias (male head of household), reflecting the patriarchal structure of Roman society (fathers arranging marriages, controlling finances)
• Depicts tensions between fathers and sons, particularly regarding arranged marriages, mirroring generational conflicts in Roman families (sons defying fathers' wishes, seeking love matches) Representation of social classes:
• Offers satirical portrayals of the elite and their moral shortcomings, critiquing the excesses and vices of the upper class (wealthy characters' greed, hypocrisy)
• Presents sympathetic depictions of clever slaves and their attempts to outwit their masters, highlighting the intelligence and resourcefulness of the lower classes (slaves devising intricate plans, outsmarting their owners)
• Provides commentary on the limited social mobility in Roman society, illustrating the challenges faced by characters seeking to improve their status (poor characters dreaming of wealth, encountering obstacles) Reflection of Roman attitudes towards gender roles:
• Portrays assertive and independent female characters, challenging traditional gender norms and expectations (women taking charge, defying male authority)
• Explores the power dynamics between men and women in romantic relationships, showcasing the agency and influence of female characters (women manipulating men, using their wit and charm) Incorporation of Roman religious and cultural practices:
• References Roman deities and religious rituals, integrating elements of Roman belief systems into the plots (characters invoking gods, participating in festivals)
• Includes Roman festivals and holidays as plot devices, using these events as backdrops for comedic situations and character interactions (Saturnalia, Lupercalia)

Plautus' impact on Roman theater

Adaptation of Greek plays for Roman audiences:

• Introduces Roman audiences to the plots, themes, and stock characters of Greek New Comedy, making these elements accessible and enjoyable (exposing Romans to Menandrian comedy)
• Modifies Greek source material to make it more relatable to Roman viewers, incorporating Roman cultural references and social commentary (localizing the plays, adding Roman flavor) Influence on later Roman comedy:
• Establishes a model for adapting Greek plays into Latin, setting a precedent for future Roman playwrights (Terence following Plautus' example)
• Inspires future Roman playwrights, such as Terence, to continue adapting Greek New Comedy, ensuring the genre's popularity and longevity (Terence refining Plautus' techniques) Preservation of Greek New Comedy:
• Plautus' adaptations help preserve the works of Greek playwrights, such as Menander, whose original plays have been largely lost (Plautus' plays serving as a record of lost Greek comedies)
• Provides insight into the plots and themes of Greek New Comedy through his adaptations, offering a glimpse into the original source material (Plautus' plays as a window into Menandrian comedy) Lasting impact on Western literature and theater:
• Plautus' plays serve as a source of inspiration for later playwrights, such as Shakespeare and Molière, influencing the development of comedy in different eras and cultures (The Comedy of Errors, Tartuffe)
• The stock characters and comedic tropes popularized by Plautus continue to influence comedy and theater to this day, shaping the conventions and expectations of the genre (mistaken identities, witty servants, happy endings)