The Prisoners (Captivi)
Please read Plautus' The Prisoners (Captivi). Cite a line from this play that shows something about Roman society or Roman history one might not learn from a more conventional historical source, e.g., something about day-to-day life in Rome, something about Roman values, or something about the Roman sense of humor. Explain why you chose this particular line. Alternatively, note somethng Plautus has done with one of the five "narrative essentials" (plot, character, theme, setting, and tone) that shows something important about Roman history.
posted by Ancient Art at 10:32 AM
12 Comments:
Yeah! I'm the first one to comment!!!! I picked the conversation between the guard and Hegio near the beginning of the play. Hegio mentions, "A prisoner given partial liberty is like a wild bird; the first chance of escape, he's off, and you'll never catch him again." This points to the problem of slavery in Rome. You get some of this from some Roman Historians, but this seems to drive it home. I get the feeling that Hegio has had a few slaves try to escape and therefore he has learned to be careful. The conversation afterwards is a bit comical. The guard comments that all people like to be free to which Hegio replys, "you're still here." Of course the guard really doesn't want to be there but he doesn't have enough money to buy his freedom. Then the Guard mentions something about turning into a wil bird himself and Hegio finishes by saying he will put the guard in a cage if that happens and tells him to leave. I think this would funny to perform and watch.
The line I chose decribes how people become slaves in Roman history.
"Luck makes what she will of a man, shapes him in any way she pleases. She has turned me from a free man into a slave, brought me fromt he top to the bottom. I was always used to command; now I am subject to another man's orders."
People from foreign lands were taken as slaves when they were on the losing end of the war. The chance of becoming a slave was based on luck. If a man was lucky and won the war, he would be the master of slaves, whom were the enemies of war. If a man was unlucky and lost a war, he would be the slave of the man who won the war.
The first thing that I learnd from this play is near the begining when one of the character refers to himself as being tipsy....I found it amusing more than informational beings that there are now rap songs titled tipsy.....What I found perhaps most interesting in the play is when the father is talking about the prisioner that he captured and how he was the son of a wealthy man so he could now exchange him for his son. He didn't seem to care that he was kidnapping anyone,just that he finally got some one worthy of his son. I found this to be very interesting about a society. I was hoping that this was just for the comedy or just in the movies sort of things like today, but somehow I doubt that and that is sad to me.
The line I found interesting was these lines from Act II.
"But remember to realize it when you get what you want. For, generally speaking, men have a habit of being fine fellows so long as they are seeking some favour; but when they have obtained it there's a change, and your fine fellows turn into villainous cheats of the worst description. In all this, sir, I'm telling you how I wish you to act toward me. "
This phrase sounds more like what Modern thinkers like Machiavelli would say over a millenium later. A lot of people are nicer when they are looking for favors. If they aren't, then they return to trying to get favors through treachery. Call me a cynic, but some people are like that in real life.
Another interesting thing is a name that is way too long for a natural name. "Ducatsdoubloonsandpiecesofeightson" How do you pronounce or even write a name like that. It competes with some of the names in the Old Testament.
A line from Act IV summed up a bad day. "It's sad when a man has to spend his time looking for his food and has hard work finding it. It's sadder, though, when he has hard work looking for it and doesn't find it. But it's saddest of all when a man is pining to eat, and no food in range. By gad, if I only could, I'd like to dig the eyes out of this day, it's made every living soul so damnably mean to me!" This is a guy that today would needs some anti-depressants and a session with some doctor to get through his day.
At the very end, in the Prologue, the whole plot is summed up.
"Spectators, this play was composed with due regard to the proprieties: here you have no vicious intrigues, no love affair, no supposititious child, no getting money on false pretences, no young spark setting a wench free without his father's knowledge.
Dramatists find few plays such as this which make good men better. Now, if you so please, and if we have pleased you and have not been boring, intimate as much: you who wish virtue to be rewarded, give us your applause."
The writers intended this play to point out certain flaws of society and try to correct them through encouraging the audience to clap for the virtue of the play and do something about social injustice.
Tyndarus: "I do admit that my father is a very wealthy man at home and that I do come of very good family. But, Hegio, I beseech you, don't let my wealth make your demands too exorbitant: for my father, even though I am his only son, might feel that it was better for me to remain your slave, well fed and clothed at your expense, than to come to beggary there at home where it would disgrace us most."
I find this passage to be telling of Roman values. Tyndarus claims that in order to save face with neighbors, [Philocrates'] father would rather have his son in bondage than pay for his release. Now, of course, this was all part of his ruse. I can't help but to believe that it actually occured, or else Hegio wouldn't have fallen for it. We, of course, know that Hegio himself could not pay for the release of his own son- despite his projected wealth(though we do find that he doesn't actually have all that much left).
Here is the quote I found intriguing:
Hegio: I am glad to see that you accept your servitude in the proper spirit; and you will find that your willingness will be to your own advantage as much as anyone else's.
It caught me off guard simply by the words 'proper spirit'. Is that humbly? Happily? Gratefully? Obediently? Apparently this line shows that there is a right and wrong way to act when people are showing you charity... even if that charity is slavery. Philocrates is willing to be a servant because it is better than his prior circumstance.
One essential the storyline is man v. man. It seems that much of the story is based around men using other men to get what they want. The play, Pot of Gold, had similar means, but it started with Lar, the guardian spirit of Euclio's home using men to do what he wants.
One pattern I have noticed in the Captives, Pseudolus, and the Swaggering Soldier (which I started reading by accident) was that Plautus uses trickery in each one. Every play is like a game where an elaborate plot is set up in order to to hurt one person and help another. These games are set up by the slaves, who seem much more intelligent in the matter than do the slave owners.
This pattern leads me to two conclusions. Either select slaves really were that much smarter than their captors or slaves were not trusted in the Roman world. Plautus might be hinting at that slaves were not trusted because of their scheming. In all three plays that I mentioned slaves have thought up the master plan and has employed their master in it. I believe Plautus is saying that because slaves have the ability to almost control their masters in such a way that they can not be trusted.
HEGIO: Oh, as to that, I am as well off as I need to be, thanks to the gods and my forberers. Nor do I consider every bit of profit an unmixed blessing to a man. I am quite sure that many a man has been corrupted by profit; there are even times when a loss can be more beneficial than a gain. I have no good word for gold; it has too often tempted too many people into wrongdoing. Just you listen to me, than we shall both know what I have in mind. My son is a prisoner and a slave in your land of Elis; you get him back for me, and you needn't give me a penny of ransom more than that; I shall let you and your servent go free on those terms - but on no others.
It is not mentioned in the history books of any Roman hating gold and noticing its corruption. Hegio has no interest in gold; he only wants his son back. in this passage Hegio is talking to his slave Tyndarus who comes from a rich family and suggested ransom.
I would have to comment on the whole Ergasilus conversation with Hegio in the beginning. This conversation shows how slaves effect everyday Roman lives, specifically the unemployed. This shows how Ergasilus is out of work and is depending on his patron/client relationship for food. This dependancy shows how a bigger problem is arising in Roman politics. The more a client like Ergasilus needs food the more he is willing to do for less and that means his vote is easily swayed, leading to more curruption in Rome.
The line that I decided to cite follows: "Seeing it's the will of Heaven you're in this box, the thing for you to do is to take it calmly: do that, and you won't have such a hard time of it." I found this line to be important because it testifies to the roman people's justification for slavery. It is interesting because the roman values of justice and honor conflict with the practice of slavery. However, they justify its practice because the gods allow it to occur, thus it must be acceptable.
I picked the following line: "Seeing it's the will of Heaven you're in this box, the thing for you to do is to take it calmly: do that, and you won't have such a hard time of it. I picked this line because it testifies to the justification that the romans used for slavery. It is interesting because the roman values of justice and honor conflict with the practice of slavery; yet, they are acceptable because the romans believe that the gods deem them to be so.
Tynd.
For that matter, sir, you already see that to save a man I love, I am holding my own life cheap, much as I love it.
Philocr.
I realize it.
Tynd.
But remember to realize it when you get what you want. For, generally speaking, men have a habit of being fine fellows so long as they are seeking some favour; but when they have obtained it there's a change, and your fine fellows turn into villainous cheats of the worst description. In all this, sir, I'm telling you how I wish you to act toward me.
The above passage shows that one acts with honor and be willing to lay one's life down for a slave. that shows virtue and the respect that a good slave owner should have.
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