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 something Plautus has done with one of the five "narrative essentials" (plot, character, theme, setting, and tone) that shows something important about Roman history.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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 something 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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The line I picked is from page 62 and is said by Ergasilus when talking to Hegio: "Because this is my birthday; and it would give me great pleasure to...be invited to diner with you." This line shows the day to day life of someone in Ergasilus social class of how they get the most of their food, by joining in on others peeople's meals. It also shows some of Roman sense of humor in the way that Ergasilus brings it up in his concersation with Hegio.
ReplyDeleteWhen Ergasilus talks about the loss of his son you see just how cherished chidren where in rome when he said you never relize what you have until you lose it. We often say that nowadays and it shows that the Romans where very family oriented.
ReplyDeleteI chose a quote from page 63 where the guard says, “…now you are 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 quote shows the social order of the Roman society. The slaves were clearly at the bottom and were to obey their master no matter what. The guard makes it clear that although these men were free when they were home they are not now. Being a slave in a Roman society meant that they were not allowed to question their master’s opinion or authority and they must also accept that.
ReplyDelete"I must go and look at my accounts, and see how much money I've got in the bank." I think that this shows a society of wealth because they have banks to keep their money in. I also think that this shows a society that has good security because people trust their money in banks. I am curious to know if they have a banking system similar to ours today with interests and the ability to write checks. Even though it seems obvious Rome would have banks it is something I would have never even noticed or asked about if I hadn't read this play.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote said by Ergasilus on page 61, “Ah yes; a man never knows the vaule of what he possesses, until he has lost it. Only since your son feel into enemy hands have I realized what he ment to me and now I miss him terribly.” I think that this is a very good example of Roman values. It shows that they had deep connections with other people and that even then people took one another for granted. Plautus used this to develop Ergasilus’s character. It allows us to see a deep caring side of him.
ReplyDeletePhilocrates: I could almost call you my own father, if I dared. You have always been a second father to me. This is after the name switch when the slave and master are talking about their plan. Philocrates tells Tyndarus that he looks to him like a father. This shows that even a slave master can look up to their slaves as an equal or superior.
ReplyDeleteOn page 85 Ergasilus goes into a discription of daily business in the marketplace. He mentions fishmongers, butchers, and millers who keep pigs. I do have some questions about the ties between millers and pigs: I believe that traditionally millers were more concerned with grain and meal, but maybe this was a popular sideline for them in these times?
ReplyDeleteObviously, Ergasilus is most concerned with his belly. He's bullying specific merchants about the quality of meat they sell, rotten fish, mutton disguised as lamb, and old ram disguised as mutton. He leaves out the clothiers, potters, and basket-weavers one would usually find in a market, but it's still a glimpse into daily Roman life one doesn't always find in traditional texts.
pg. 67-
ReplyDelete"Whenever he makes a sacrifice to his divine protector, all the untensils he uses for the ceremony have to be of the cheapest pottery. lest the holy god himself should steal them."
This passage indirectly depicts a facet of making sacrifices in Greece, or at the least the way Romans viewed it.
The thing that stood out for me was the actual premise of the play - a rich man buying up recently captured slaves in hopes of finding one “important” enough to trade for his own son who was captured in battle and was now a slave. I had known that most slaves were acquired from successful military campaigns, but the idea presented in the play was a new one to me. It makes sense though since, unlike in modern times, the rich were not exempt from serving in wars - even moreso with the requirement in ancient times of soldiers providing their own equipment (at least before the Marian reforms).
ReplyDeleteI didnt find any one particular line but the description of the "parasite" and his function is something that probably would not be found in history books. Who would pay a person to eat all of their food while telling jokes?
ReplyDeleteThe overall theme of the play seems to be about the treatment of slaves. This would make sense given the fact that Rome had been victorious in battle and would have had an abundance of slaves.
On page 89 Ergasilus is telling Hegio about the return of Hegio's son. In response to the good new Hegio promises that Ergasilus will never have to worry about his next meal or being comfortable in life. It is aparent here that Roman culture to some extent was able to look past a persons social status and reward them for good news or actions.
ReplyDeleteThe plot of this story shows several things about Roman history. First it shows the importance of the slave trade. Second, it shows the extent of which slaves were passed between people. The idea that a man could buy up an entire people just to find a suitable trade shows just how much the Romans used and enslaved individuals.
I think that the lines by Tyndarus on page 75 and 81 show some of the characteristics Romans valued. On page 75 he realizes that his plot is about to be spoiled by Aristophontes, but instead of running away he decides to stand up and take whatever comes. And then on page 81, when Hegio condemns Tyndarus, Tyndarus doesn't beg for forgiveness. Instead, he stands up to Hegio, takes credit for what he did and why he did it and accepts his fate. I think that this shows that Romans valued honor and bravery in everything. Instead of running away and trying to save yourself, you stand up to whatever comes to you and take it like a man.
ReplyDeleteJohn Rawerts
On page 81 when Tyndarus talks about how he should serve his master in his absents. Lines 6 and 7 shows the loyalty slaves gave to there masters even if it ment for them to die. To me this describe how Romans basically control people when there were gone or present.
ReplyDelete