The Captivi and the Mostellaria by Titus Maccius Plautus

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Author Plautus, Titus Maccius, 255 BCE-185 BCE
Translator Riley, Henry T. (Henry Thomas), 1816-1878
Title The Captivi and the Mostellaria
Credits Text file produced by David Starner, Blain Nelson, Ted Garvin and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
HTML file produced by David Widger
Summary "The Captivi and the Mostellaria" by Titus Maccius Plautus is a collection of two Roman plays that exemplifies the comedic aspects of ancient theater, likely written during the late 3rd century BC. The plays deal with themes such as mistaken identities, parental relationships, and the plight of captives, all while delivering humor through sharp dialogue and situational comedy. Key characters emerge: Hegio, the father desperate to rescue his son from captivity, and the captives, Philocrates and Tyndarus, who find themselves in a web of deception and exchange. The opening of the first play, "The Captivi," introduces the entangled narrative surrounding Hegio and his sons—one lost to slavery and the other a captive. The prologue establishes the backstory, where Philocrates and Tyndarus plot to swap identities in an attempt to manipulate their respective situations. As they navigate the complex roles of slaves and masters, the humor shines through in their schemes and the misunderstandings that arise. The interactions reveal a mix of desperation and cleverness among characters, setting the stage for further comedic exploits and illustrating the folly inherent in human endeavors. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature
Subject Latin drama (Comedy)
Subject Plautus, Titus Maccius -- Translations into English
Category Text
EBook-No. 7282
Release Date
Most Recently Updated May 15, 2013
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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