Please read Plautus' The Prisoners (Captivi). Cite a line from this play that shows something about Roman society or Roman history one might not learn from a more conventional historical source, e.g., something about day-to-day life in Rome, something about Roman values, or something about the Roman sense of humor. Explain why you chose this particular line. Alternatively, note somethng Plautus has done with one of the five "narrative essentials" (plot, character, theme, setting, and tone) that shows something important about Roman history.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Prisoners
Please read Plautus' The Prisoners (Captivi). Cite a line from this play that shows something about Roman society or Roman history one might not learn from a more conventional historical source, e.g., something about day-to-day life in Rome, something about Roman values, or something about the Roman sense of humor. Explain why you chose this particular line. Alternatively, note somethng Plautus has done with one of the five "narrative essentials" (plot, character, theme, setting, and tone) that shows something important about Roman history.
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"I've often seen pictures of the tortures of the damned in hell, but there's no hell to equal the place where I've been, in those quarries, Down there they make a manwork till he's incapable of feeling tired any more." I picked this line because i know slavery was big back in the roman times, and many were not lucky to be house slaves were their jobs were not so hard as the slaves in the quarries, it was also a type of punishment for Tyndarus lying to Hegio, where we might put someone in prison for a lying or some crime, they work them to death. I also like what plautus did with hegio throughout the play, he seems every desperate and does everything to get his son back, and when he learns that he let one of the slaves go free and he wont get his son back is very saddened, and when he does learn that he made his son work in the quarries he feels horrible for what he did, just thought it was very realistic and you can feel for the guy.
"That runaway slave, as I said before, stole his young master when he decamped and sold him to this (indicating Philocrates) man's father." From a lot of the books that I have read about Roman society, I seen many incidents of betrayal. This slave betrayed his master and fooled another man that the master was the slave and the slave was the master, thus the master becomes a slave. Though I think betrayal is one of the worst acts that a human can do, I can almost see why this was done. The man who was committing this undeedly act was a slave. During the Roman period there were many slaves. The slave had the choice of living his life of being someones slave or betraying his master and then possibly getting a better life. In this case I can see why it was done.
"Pity the man who has to go looking for food for himself and a hard job finding it. And pity still more the man who has a hard job looking and doesnt find it!" I chose this line by Ergasilus because the entire play his only motivation and goal is to find food. That is all he seems to do and i highly doubt that in a conventional look at roman history they will mention that there were people who just went around entertaining and begging for a free meal. I also find it intresting because he uses information and witty conversation to earn a place at peoples tables. Kind of like a bard.
I like the lines "now that I have lost my liberty and my home...The fortune of war has made us equals." The real Philocrates says this and it speaks true of the attitude toward warfare at the time. On the field it meant little whether you were a scrub in a barbarian army or a consul of a Roman legion with your own personal guard if you lost and did not run fast enough you could be captured and made a slave for someone else. And of course you could live out your life in slavery or barter for it as Philocrates did. Life seemed to have a more direct value in those times, either you were someone's property or not and had to work or fight for your needs.
-Louis-
stalagmus: "Ha! that means a flogging, dosnt it? as if i wasn't used to it!"
i picked this line becosue i think it showes how slaves we treated. they had a place and i they steped outside of that they face punishment. and it becomes commen. slaves are over worked and treated poorly.
"And that's just why I keep reminding you the oftener to remember what the situation calls for: I'm not your master, I'm a slave. Now I beg this one thing of you—since we have unmistakable proof that it's Heaven's will I should no longer be your master but your fellow slave, I, who used to have the right to command you, now implore and entreat you" I feel that this quote tells us an over all them of the story and of Roman values. There were obviously certain roles a person played in society and slaves knew their place and they knew that they were to serve there masters with out question like we see in this quote. The slaves were often times treated very poorly as we see the prisoners in shackels at the begining of the play. Slavery was accepted and both slave and master knew their roles.
Hegio
Attention, please, my man. Those two captives that I bought yesterday from the commissioners in charge of the spoils—put the light irons on them and take off the heavy ones they're coupled with.
Let them walk out here or inside, whichever they please; but look after them sharp, mind you. A captive free is a regular wild bird: once given a chance to flit, that is enough—you can never get hold of him again.
This line I think really shows the Roman ideals and how they really were a dominating culture, and had no respect for the conquered. It definately underlines how they didnt have any compassion for their slaves.
Hegio
After I've tortured you in the most excruciating ways possible, and sent you to perdition for the lies you've patched up, let 'em announce that you've perished utterly, or that you've merely died; so long as you're dead, no matter—they can say you're living, for all I care.
This shows how quickly Hegio's mind has been steered in a different direction, and how he doesn't even care about what happens to Tyndarus. Slavery was an extremely big thing at this time and with Tyndarus lying to Hegio, his master, the capital punishment is necessary. Tyndarus does not feel that he is at fault in this situation, but makes it known that he is willing to take this punishment, because he says that if his master shall come God help Hegio.
Philocr.
(to Tyndarus) Step over here now, if you please, come over, so that no one may catch what we say and leave us with a scheme that has leaked out. (they move still farther from the overseers) Shrewd management is what makes a trick a trick, you know: once it gets out, it becomes an instrument of torture.
No matter if you are passing as my master and I as your slave, even so we've got to be wary, we've got to be cautious, so that our plan may be worked out in a clear-headed way, quietly and carefully, with discretion and diligence. It's a big job we've got in hand: we can't go to sleep over it.
I think this line shows that although most Roman people have good values, there is a lot of undermining going on in the government. It explains how people try and come up with plans to get their way even when its bad for Roman society.
A line that I found to be interesting was when the guard was talking to the prisoners of war and he said, "You were free men at home, I dare say; now you're slaves, and if you're wise you'll accept that, and accept your master's orders, and use your commonsense to make your position as comfortable as possible. What your master orders is right, even if it seems to you wrong." This line shows me that maybe if you would have happened to become a slave; that if your did your work and did what you were told that your time might not be as bad while you are a slave and just maybe if you're a prisoner of war you might get bought back by your family if they could get you. This shows us that even though you may have been free at one time that now your were expected to do work that a slave did and show respect to your master even if you don't think it's right. From this you can see that the Romans believed that even though you're a slave you still need to show respect to your master even if you know he is wrong.
Eric Bengs
Then I must beg to differ from you. I say it was right. Don't you think you would be grateful to any slave of yours who whould do the same for your son? Would you not call him the best slave you ever had? Would you or wouldn't you?
I think this shows a lot of values. It shows loyalty of slaves to their masters, even though he is a slave from a different region it still reflects the values of its audience. It also shows how much family means to Hegio. The whole play is a reflection of how important Hegio's son is to him because he is going through a difficult process in order to get him back. A process that seems to be looked down upon but he doesn't care because he wants his son back. Every character in the play is made to have a lot of honour. Slaves, masters, fathers, and sons everyone is acting with honour.
"I'll tell you - just after I left you, I went up to some young fellows in the forum. 'Good Morning, fellows', I said, 'where are we lunching?' Dead silence. 'Any takers? Do I hear someone say "With me"?' All dumb as mutes; not even a smile. "What about dinner, then?" The gentlemen shake their heads. So I told them a funny story, one of my best, one I could have dined out on for a month in the old days. Nobody laughed. Of course it was a conspiracy - I could see that at once."
I picked this passage because like arabin said Ergasilus' entire goal through this play is to find food by means of begging. It's strange because at first you think something like this is so foreign to us, but if you've ever been to a large city, especially on the coasts, you realize just how many people live their day to day lives by begging. The only difference is that it seems like Ergasilus atleast tries to exchange good company and humor for his food, which it would appear not many people want anymore. So while in a sense the idea of a 'parasite' or jester in everyday life seems distant, it isn't all that much different from the people living on the streets in modern times.
The fortune of war has made us equals. This shows me that Romans have a sense of humor. I dont think most people wish for war and to say that war is fortunate is kinda a sarcastic remark showing that romans can laugh about things that are serious.
"because at their tables I am employed not invited." Professional Table companion seems like such an odd sort of thing to do with your life. Being a parasite and living off others, then starving when they leave. I suppose one would need to be very charismatic or on one of the lower rungs of society.
The part of the play that I think reflects Roman values is when Tyndarus is found out by Hegio that he had switched places with his master. "I say it was right. Don't you think you would be grateful to any slave of yours who would do the same for your son? would you not feel like giving that slave his freedom? would you not call him the best slave you ever had?....Would you or wouldn't you?" This line shows that slaves should honor their masters and do what they can for them willingly. I also think that this play also shows the importance of keeping your word when you make a promise.
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