Please read The Pot of Gold, Psedolus, or The Brothers Menaechmus. Cite a line or two that shows something one might learn about Roman history from the plays of Plautus. What does this play have to say about Roman values, family relationships, romantic relationships, day-to-day life, religion, etc.?Note that there are *two* blog assignments for Tuesday's class. If your study time is limited, read The Prisoners carefully and skim the play you read for this assignment.
14 comments:
I read the Brothers menaechmus and picked the line "I sleep soundly enough- if I've paid all my bills, oh jupiter and all the gods blast you and your silly questions." A lot of roman history is tied to power and wealth, and its funny that he mentions he sleeps well if he has paid the bills and not a personal reason like his wife or anything, and the 2nd part just shows how religous and important the gods are the the romans because they are constantly using their names. I thought it gave a lot of insight into roman family relationships, the father of Menaechmus wife even talks about as long as he provides his daugther will all the right stuff she should just leave him alone so he can do what he wants and be a good wife, they say nothing of loving her but just providing for her, seems like a lot of marriages could just be for more power and not love.
I read Pseudolus and liked the lines spoken as he came home drunk in his own triumph. He came to collect his bet from Simo and exchanged words; "The rascal! What shall I do with him? Is he not only to have the money but make me a laughing-stock as well? Vae Victis!" I think it might show a secret appreciation that Romans may have had for their slaves. Without all of them Roman society would not have lasted as long and though most probably lived hard lives until death some like Pseudolus may have showed enough natural wits to live a reasonable existence and received enough respect fromt their masters to engage in jokes without fear of immediate floggings.
-Louis-
"Yes, take it, keep it, spend it on my daughter, let her have it as dowry. It's no use to me." I think this shows great generosity and selflessness. It is surprising and almost seems unbelievable that Euclio would do this. It does however, show that the father is looking out for the next generation and wants something better for his daughter. This is a very common ideology and many parents can relate to it today. We all want our kids to grow up better than we did.
"A wife without a dowry is under her husband's thumb; with one, she can condemn him to misery and bankruptcy..." The Pot of Gold
Like Keith said, roman history is wealth and power, and this demonstrates that this phenomenon is just as much on an individual level for the average family (by just about any definition)as it would be for any politician or ruler. This quote, which is really just the conclusion to a rather long discourse on wives with considerable dowries, reveals quite a bit about just how marriages were treated in Ancient Rome. Also,the insinuation that wives with doweries then leave their husbands unable to pay poor soldiers due to all their extravagence another example of stereotypes we can thank Plautus for?
Cassandra
As for the Prisoners (aka CAPTIVI) I found Tyndarus' declaration that "to die in an act of courage is not to suffer everlasting death" to be a good summary of his entire speech about his loyalty to his Philocrates before Heigo. This illustrates the importance that Romans (or at least some, i suppose) attached to loyalty to one another, and to how many of them chose to prioritize which loyalties came first.
Cassandra Stangeland
pseudolus
i picked a line when calidorus and pseudolus are yelling insults at ballio
ballio "you bring me the money, my bou, and his deal is off,. thats wha i consider my duty. i'd be delighted to disscuss it further with you, but i'm busy just now... if you'll excuse me... only remember - without the money it'll be no use your coming to me with cries of mercy."
i chose this line becosue i thought it clearly stated how slaves were viewed. they were propery and sold or traded at will and there personal feelings were irrelivent.
-allison
I read the Pot of Gold, and the event that appeals to me about the way of Roman society and the implication of family is the conversation between eunomia and megadorous. "Mega. Yes--to die before marrying. (pause) All right, I'll marry anyone you please, in this condition,though: her wedding to-morrow, and her wake the day after. Still wish it, on this condition? Produce her! Arrange for the festivities!" This shows Megadorous's dedication to obey his sister in what she wants him to do in this situation. He is extremely considerate when talking to his sister about marrying some one and wishes to request who he marries, and even though she is not wealthy, she allows it. Also he says that he is rich enough that he doesn't have to marry a fancy fat rich middle aged woman. This shows the typical Roman in that he still has concern about money.
I read pseudolus. One of my favorite lines in it is when Calidorus say " Thats absurd, a lover must behave like a fool or there's no fun in it". This line is as true back then as it is now. Lovers often do the most foolish things and outrageouse things all in the name of love. I'd comment more but the line speaks more for it self hen i ever could.
Mega. Now that we appreciate each other, I'm going to ask you-- and may it turn out happily for you and your girl and me-- to give me your daughter in marriage. Promise you will.
That line is from Pot of Gold. I think this line shows us that the Romans tried to get their kids to marry into someone with wealth so they can live a pretty decent life. It could also show us how Romans valued money over there kids wishes because the marriage is supposed to be arranged and the kids might not like that at all
I read the Pot of Gold and a fews lines that poped out to me where with Euclio and him worrying about his gold. "Oh my god, he's got his hooks into that gold. He wants to do a deal with me, I know he does. I must pop inside and see if everything's alright." Also the line "I'm sure I heard a spade." These are just a few lines that show how worried Euclio is and they seem to be something that the Romans would find funny since most of them probably did worry about their gold like Euclio.
Eric Bengs
I read the Pot of Gold. It talks about the evils of greed and the wonders of having a clear mind than having a tremendous amount of wealth. I thought the story was interesting because I talked about some unmarried relations. It showed arranged marriages and it didn't really talk about love being a cause for getting together with anyone. I thought it was also funny when the Uncle and his sister were talking about him getting married and the sister commented on the condition of women. I think this writer is kind of funny when he comes to referencing things that we think of today as stereotypes of women. It is interesting to see them written years and years ago though. Which leads me to believe that their is probably more to the story than just stereotype. It is interesting to see how the writer infuses comedy and a moral in all of his plays.
if you'll excuse me, only remember, without the money it'll be no use your coming to me with cries of mercy. This shows a greedy side of the romans.Even though the romans were big on dignity there was a lot of greed and corruption in rome. And like any other place lots of men are driven by money, and commite immoral acts to get it, such as slavery.
I read the Brothers Menaechmus, "I may have well married an immigration officer," Either the translator made a mistake or the Romans had an immigration office! I bet like many things it was better than ours. This just really surprised me, I know it would have been necessary, but I don't know if the officers could have kept track of everyone coming in and out since there would have been quite a lot of people.
I read The Brothers Menaechmus and I chose the line "It will certainly be in your interest to do so. You're not coming into this house again until you bring the gown with you. I'm going home."
I chose this line because I thought it was kind of funny that even in that day it was possible for the man to be in the doghouse with his wife, even though it always seems that according to history the men are greatly in charge and answer only to themselves.
I read The Pot of Gold and I liked the ending where Euclio gives away his pot of gold. "If that money can go where it will do some good, I shall be the happiest man in the world, instead of the most miserable, which is what I have been ever since it came into my possession. Day or night, I've not had a moment's peace with that treasure on my mind." I picked these lines because it reflects that money and power are not the most important things in life.
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