8.1 Life and works of Plautus

Plautus, a Roman playwright born around 254 BCE, left an indelible mark on comedy. Starting as a stage-hand, he became a prolific writer, penning over 130 plays. His wit and relatable characters quickly won over Roman audiences.

Plautus' works, like "Miles Gloriosus" and "Pseudolus," blend Greek New Comedy with Roman flair. He adapted Greek plots and themes, adding Roman cultural references and slapstick humor. His plays often feature clever slaves outwitting their masters and young lovers overcoming obstacles.

Plautus' Life and Works

Plautus' life and career

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• Born Titus Maccius Plautus in Sarsina, Umbria around 254 BCE
  • Relocated to Rome as a young man to pursue a career in theater
• Worked in the theater as a stage-hand and actor
  • Acquired extensive knowledge of Greek New Comedy and stagecraft through hands-on experience
• Began writing his own comedies for the Roman stage around 205 BCE
  • Quickly gained popularity with Roman audiences due to his witty dialogues and relatable characters
  • Received patronage from wealthy Roman aristocrats who supported his theatrical endeavors
• Prolific playwright who wrote over 130 plays during his career, of which 20 survive today
• Passed away around 184 BCE, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Roman comedy

Major works of Plautus

• Amphitruo (c. 195-185 BCE)
  • Tragicomic play featuring mistaken identities and divine intervention (Jupiter disguises himself as Amphitryon)
• Miles Gloriosus (The Braggart Soldier) (c. 205-200 BCE)
  • Features a clever slave (Palaestrio) who outwits a boastful soldier (Pyrgopolynices) to reunite young lovers
• Pseudolus (c. 191 BCE)
  • Revolves around a cunning slave (Pseudolus) who helps his master's son win the girl he loves (Phoenicium)
• Mostellaria (The Haunted House) (c. 200-190 BCE)
  • Involves a spendthrift son (Philolaches) and a clever slave (Tranio) who tries to conceal his master's debts by pretending the house is haunted
• Menaechmi (The Twin Brothers) (c. 200-190 BCE)
  • Features twin brothers (Menaechmus and Sosicles) separated at birth and the comedic confusion that ensues when they reunite in Epidamnus

Historical Context and Influences

Context of Plautus' comedies

• Plautus lived during the Middle Republic period of Rome (c. 264-133 BCE)
  • Rome was expanding its territory and influence through military conquests (Punic Wars, Macedonian Wars)
  • Roman society was undergoing significant changes due to increased wealth and cultural exchange with Greek and Hellenistic world
• Plautus' comedies were performed at religious festivals (Ludi Megalenses, Ludi Romani) and public events
  • Plays served as entertainment for the masses and a means of social commentary on contemporary issues
• Plautus' works reflect the social hierarchies and values of Roman society
  • Slaves, who were often depicted as clever and resourceful (Pseudolus, Palaestrio), played a central role in his comedies
  • The plays often satirized the foibles of the wealthy and powerful (Pyrgopolynices, Theopropides)

Greek influence on Plautus

• Greek New Comedy, developed in Athens during the 4th century BCE, heavily influenced Plautus
  • Playwrights such as Menander, Diphilus, and Philemon served as models for Plautus' plots and characters
• Plautus adapted the plots, characters, and themes of Greek New Comedy to suit Roman tastes and sensibilities
  • He often combined elements from multiple Greek plays into a single work, a technique known as contaminatio
• Common themes in Plautus' comedies, derived from Greek New Comedy, include:
  1. Mistaken identities and disguises (Amphitruo, Menaechmi)
  2. Clever slaves who outwit their masters (Pseudolus, Mostellaria)
  3. Young lovers facing obstacles to their union (Miles Gloriosus, Pseudolus)
  4. The triumph of wit and resourcefulness over social constraints
• Plautus infused his adaptations with Roman cultural references, wordplay (puns, alliteration), and slapstick humor
  • His comedies featured musical elements, such as cantica (songs) and tibiae (double pipes), which enhanced their entertainment value for Roman audiences