Thursday, September 21, 2023

Still more Plautus!

Please read The Pot of Gold, Pseudolus, or The Brothers Menaechmus 

Cite here some lines/passages that would be particularly good for showing what the play you read says about Roman values, family relationships, romantic relationships, day-to-day life, religion, etc.

4 comments:

  1. I read Pot of Gold and I found some good lines that stuck out to me in particular about Roman values.
    It is surprising Providence wouldn't make a King Philip or Darius of me for your benefit,you viper,you!(threatingly) I want those cobwebs watched! I'm poor,poor; I admit it, I put up with it; I take what the gods give me. In with you, bolt the door. I shall be back soon. No outsider is to be let in, mind you. And in case anyone should be looking for a light, see you put the fire out so no one will have any reason to come to you for it. Mark my words, if that fire stays alive, I'll extinguish you instantly. And the water-- if anyone asks for water, tell him it's all run out. As for a knife, or an axe, or a pestle, or a mortar,-- things the neighbours are all the time wanting to borrow-- tell 'em burglars got in and stole the whole lot. I won't have a living soul let into my house while I'm gone--there! Yes, and what's more, listen here, if Dame Fortune herself comes along, don't you let her in.
    This line is from Scene 2 and Euclio says it and he is stating how important it is that his house is watched over and that nothing can be stolen from the house. He values his house and the stuff in his house.
    Mega. Yes--to die before marrying. (pause) All right, I'll marry anyone you please, in this condition,though: her wedding to-morrow, and her wake the day after. Still wish it, on this condition? Produce her! Arrange for the festivities!
    This is another line that is important to Roman values because with some background context we see that getting married before you die is very important in their culture. They value having romantic relationships and that being married is quite important to them.

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  2. I decided to read The Brothers Menaechmus and a few lines stuck out to me.
    "For as often as I wish to go out of the house, you are detaining me, calling me back, asking me questions; whither I am going, what matter I am about, what business I am transacting, what I am wanting, what I am bringing, what I have been doing out of doors? I've surely brought home a custom-house officer as my wife; so much am I obliged to disclose all my business, whatever I have done and am doing.” This line is pretty close to the start of the play and displays a bit about Roman relationships. A big part of the beginning of the play has Menaechmus cheating on his wife with a woman named Erotium, as he steals one of his wife’s dresses as a gift for his mistress. This line specifically shows how rocky of a relationship he had with his wife, and it highlights that relationships in Ancient Rome are similar to more modern relationships today in terms of cheating. The line where Menaechmus is insulting his wife reminds me of how men today talk about how their wive’s are always watching over their every move when they leave the house. In general it reminds me of the stereotypical husband/wife relationships we always see in media where people are cheating on one another.

    "speaking to her SERVANTS within . Leave the door ajar thus; begone. I don't want it shut: prepare, attend, and provide within; what is requisite, let it be done. Lay down the couches, burn the perfumes; neatness, that is the charm for the minds of lovers. Our agreableness is for the lover's loss, for our own gain.” This line is spoken by Erotium after Sosicles (Menaechmus’s twin brother) was approached by Cylindrus in the market. Specifically when Erotium states, "the lover's loss, for our own gain” I think she is basically stating that she is only with Menaechmus for his money. This play seems to be pretty good at displaying bad relationships, because Erotium seems to be a gold digger.
    I think it is interesting that Roman romantic relationships and their values are being shown throughout this play even though it is not the main focus. We get great examples of what may have happened a lot or at least the bad side of Ancient Roman relationships through this play. The Brothers Menaechmus provides great insight into Roman romantic relationships through Menaechmus’s rocky marriage and his relationship with Erotium. Not all relationships at the time were good, and cheating could have been frequent at the time.

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  3. I chose to read The Pot of Gold and what interested me most was the role of women in Roman society. Women were treated as nothing more than objects and property who could be used, sold, and/or given away in the simplest of business transactions. While reading I did not see Euclio as the doting or caring father of Phaedria, rather as the owner of some insignificant object. He doesn't care for Phaedrea’s opinion on who she should marry, only searching for what he describes as a good match (e.g. in status and wealth). He is worried about what the marriage of his daughter will do for him and not about what Phaedria wants/desires. He is so concerned about money and gold that he is blind to the world outside of his own desires for wealth. Down below I have inserted a quote/conversation between Pythodicus and Anthrax as they talk about the quickly impending marriage and how cheap Euclio is being.
    “Pyth. Now, now, Anthrax, I mean that otherwise from what you make out. Look here, my master's marrying to-day.
    Anth. Who's the lady?
    Pyth. Daughter of old Euclio who lives next door here. Yes sir, and what's more, he's to have half this stuff here, and one cook and one music girl, too,so master said.
    Anth. You mean to say half goes to him and half to you folks?
    Pyth. Just what I do mean.
    Anth. I say, couldn't the old boy pay for the catering for his daughter's wedding his own self?
    Pyth. (scornfully) Pooh!
    Anth. What's the matter?
    Pyth. The matter, eh? You couldn't squeeze as much out of that old chap as you could out of a pumice stone.”

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  4. I decided to work on the “Pot of Gold” play, as it was one that peaked my interest from the jump. The main character seems to be Euclio and the impact of having a pot of gold. This impact could be interesting for many reasons, including how to manage that pot of gold, using it for one's benefit or for safekeeping. This was a dilemma that happened for a period of time throughout Ancient Rome. Euclio is so focused on the gold that he forgets about the certain dramas that come to life before him. It starts with arrogance, and arrogance that is shown throughout life that people sometimes have when they become too complacent for whatever reason. This is an issue because they become so self-focused on themselves and the pot of gold that they have, that they forget about things that are happening around them. This situation also comes to life when Megadorus asks for his daughter's hand in marriage. From my perspective, it seems that Euclio is so focused on the pot of gold that he has, that he thinks that Megadorus is asking for his daughter's hand in marriage so that he could have a piece of the gold, or take the gold entirely from him. This is concerning for him, but again, shows how the pot of gold is impacting his decision-making by factors that aren’t even true. The paranoia that results from this affects his ability to want to do anything with Megadorus, and he seems to tell him that he doesn’t care what he does, to me it seems at least he wants to focus on the gold and that’s it. What’s concerning, is he seems to not care about his daughter as much compared to the gold, as if the gold is of more importance or value to him, which could be the case that he’s presenting. This to me shows the value of women in Roman society. Women were seen more as objects, compared to humans, which means that women are perceived only for the greater good of men. I think this story is a prime example of how women are treated differently compared to men. Some lines that stuck out to me were,

    “Mega. Now supposing a man pretty well on in life marries a lady of maturity and this aged female should happen to show intentions of making the old fellow a father-- can you doubt but that the name in store for that youngster is Postumus? See here, sister, I'll relieve you of all this and save you trouble. I'm rich enough, thanks be to heaven and our forbears. And I have no fancy at all for those ladies of high station and hauteur and fat dowries, with their shouting and their ordering and their ivory trimmed carriages and their purple and fine linen that cost a husband his liberty.”
    “Eun. For mercy's sake tell me what you do want to marry, then!”
    “Mega. It's his daughter--there's the engagement I'm eager for. Now don't make a fuss, sister. I know what you're about to say--that she's poor. But this particular poor girl suits me.”


    - Nile Hesson

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