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
brief but outlandish prologue advising the audience of a chance to “stand up and stretch their legs prior to the beginning of the play, as it was written by Plautus, and is a long one”(Plautus, 217). Here he is already using self-reflective humor poking fun at himself about writing long plays. While this could be considered an upfront request to keep the audience from rude discord during the play, the intention of Plautus is to provide a small funny prologue to help lighten the mood and set the tone for his play. This is genus. While it isn’t all that funny, it allows the audience to loosen up and have a small laugh and a calculated dose of what’s to come.
The next element the author uses is having Pseudolus speak out to the audience as if he is speaking to them too, warning them “to be on their guard…against me….and not trust a word I say”(Plautus, 221). By speaking directly to the audience, the actor helps the audience feel attached to what is going on in the play as well as help reinforce the tone and mood as a comedy. This also is a genus move on the part of Plautus, since it helps keep the tone light and still amusing while connecting the audience directly to what is going on in the play. He does this again prior to the interlude. Pseudolus addresses the audience directly, “I imagine…that you good people imagine…..that I have no intention of doing what I’ve just said I’m going to do...” (Plautus, 238). Here again Plautus has the actor address the audience directly, and helps draw them into the action of the play further as well as keep them interested even though the actor’s second purpose of addressing the audience directly is for the interlude itself.
In addition to speaking out directly to the audience to set the tone, provide some light laughs and draw them into the action so they would not lose interest, Plautus also uses skill when he writes for Pseudolus to address Calidorus with the line “Well, look, this play is being acted for the benefit of the audience; they know what happened because they saw it happen.
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,
268).
Pseudolus displays a vast array of Plautus’ comedic ingenuity in his farce to not only procure his young masters love but also come about enough money to do so. Plautus employs several different forms of theatrical elements that allow him to do this very successfully. He begins poking fun straight from the prologue, and continues throughout the play. He writes in witty lines for his actors to use that not just address what action is taking place on stage but also include the audience. By providing specific points of interaction with the audience within the play, Plautus not only helps draw them into the play, but helps keep their focus while providing some great comedic entertainment. In addition to providing these elements, he also includes visual elements such as how Pseudolus staggers after celebrating his victory. Plautus’ play Pseudolus clearly provided great comedic relief to its audiences in Rome and still do today.

Work Cited
Plautus, Titus Maccius, and E. F. Watling. "Pseudolus." The Pot of Gold: And Other Plays. London: Penguin, 1965. Print.
Brockett, Oscar G., and Franklin J. Hildy. "Theatre and Drama in Ancient Greece." History of the Theatre. 10th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2008. Print.