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Plautus' Pseudolus. “If anyone wants to stand up and stretch his legs, now is the time to do it. The next play is by Plautus and it is a long one.”. The Prologue. If there is no set plan for the audience, how does this compare with the play Menaechmi ?
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Plautus' Pseudolus “If anyone wants to stand up and stretch his legs, now is the time to do it. The next play is by Plautus and it is a long one.”
The Prologue If there is no set plan for the audience, how does this compare with the play Menaechmi? Compare Pseudolus having to adapt to new experiences to Menaechmus having to watch the world appear to go mad around him. There is an element of suspense.
What is pietas in the Roman World? • Is there a decent human being in this play? • Do people keep their promises? • Can Pseudolus trust anyone? Is there a central figure Trickster figure that he has to watch for deception?
The Fourth Wall inComedy • What makes this play different from previous comedies? • Are the situations in this play believable?
Stock Characters • What kind of stereotypes do you find in this play? • What do you learn about Roman values from reading this play? • Are the wealthy powerful? Are they likeable?
Slaves in Rome • What do you learn about the lives of slaves (work, social purpose, etc.) • Apart from freedom, what do slaves want? • Is there any promise of social opportunity for slave women? • How do slaves behave towards each other and their masters?