Pseudolus Play Analysis
Natasha Barnes
Doctor Bernd
DRAM-3713-300
20 February 2015
Consideration of Pseudolus Written by Plautus, Pseudolus is a Roman comedy or farce that not only displayed its writer’s wit and humor but also the humor of the Romans during the time. Pseudolus is a slave who vowed to somehow acquire a large sum of money for his young master who is lovesick over a women owned by a pimp. While the situation might seem plausible, the crude characterization provided by Plautus and the outlandish events that unfold not only build the farce for the audience but easily keep their attention and laughs going. Below, Pseudolus will be examined focusing on Plautus’ skill of entertaining with his comedic theatrical elements. Before the play even begins, Plautus is setting his stage by providing a …show more content…
I’ll tell you about it some other time” (Plautus, 245). This farcical line again brings the audience into the action of the play and not only draws them in but helps them feel a part of it in some nature, rousting some humor and is amusing. He does it again when Ballio is speaking to Simo about meeting Pseudolus. “The usual stage gags- and called me all the dirty names that are given to pimps in comedies- schoolboy stuff. He said I was a scoundrel, a criminal, a liar-” (Plautus, 257). Plautus uses this humor to poke fun at himself and the play itself. This type of banter continues through the end of the play with Pseudolus walking to his eldest masters home drunken and staggering on. His dialogue with Simo at the very end even pokes the notion of the audience drinking with them after it’s over (Plautus,
Doctor Bernd
DRAM-3713-300
20 February 2015
Consideration of Pseudolus Written by Plautus, Pseudolus is a Roman comedy or farce that not only displayed its writer’s wit and humor but also the humor of the Romans during the time. Pseudolus is a slave who vowed to somehow acquire a large sum of money for his young master who is lovesick over a women owned by a pimp. While the situation might seem plausible, the crude characterization provided by Plautus and the outlandish events that unfold not only build the farce for the audience but easily keep their attention and laughs going. Below, Pseudolus will be examined focusing on Plautus’ skill of entertaining with his comedic theatrical elements. Before the play even begins, Plautus is setting his stage by providing a …show more content…
I’ll tell you about it some other time” (Plautus, 245). This farcical line again brings the audience into the action of the play and not only draws them in but helps them feel a part of it in some nature, rousting some humor and is amusing. He does it again when Ballio is speaking to Simo about meeting Pseudolus. “The usual stage gags- and called me all the dirty names that are given to pimps in comedies- schoolboy stuff. He said I was a scoundrel, a criminal, a liar-” (Plautus, 257). Plautus uses this humor to poke fun at himself and the play itself. This type of banter continues through the end of the play with Pseudolus walking to his eldest masters home drunken and staggering on. His dialogue with Simo at the very end even pokes the notion of the audience drinking with them after it’s over (Plautus,