The Role Of The Servus Callidus

The role of the servus serves as the main driver of the play, as the main conflict between the adulescens and the leno and senex would often remain unresolved if it were not for the help of the crafty, often witty servus callidus. In Plautus’ Pseudolus, the role of the servus callidus is fulfilled by the eponymous character of Pseudolus, who is the main reason the character of Calidorus, the adulescens, is able the be with his lover against the wishes of Ballio, the leno, and his father Simo, the senex. The role of the servus callidus is also fulfilled by a character named Pseudolus in Lester’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In both instances, the stock character is used to drive the narrative of the play while providing comedic relief for the audience.
For instance, the eponymous character of
Oftentimes blunt and offensive, this character is subdued in nature, oblivious to their surroundings, and sometimes makes questionable decisions. Examples include Kevin from the TV show The Office and Jerry from the TV show Parks and Recreation. This is a stock character type as the character archetype reoccurs across multiple TV shows and movies while fulfilling similar roles in each case. A variation on the Gentle Giant archetype, the obese male is often socially disconnected from his peers and a source of pity or sorrow for the audience. Actors such as Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill are often cast into this stock character type for films such as The Interview, Pineapple Express, 21 Jump Street, and The Wolf of Wall Street. This stock character type portrays the American issue with obesity that has come to fruition in the past few decades, and the ability of Americans to accept obese individuals for who they are rather than judge them for their weight. It also displays the American comedy tradition of being able to joke about oneself and one’s personal