Titus Maccius Plautus, Asinaria

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The

Asinaria

(

Comedy of the Asses

) deserves to be better known than it is. While it cannot claim to be Plautus’ greatest work, it displays a number of interesting features, particularly in its treatment of stock scenes and characters (Slater), and offers some truly hilarious moments. It is, in effect, boiled-down Plautus.

Plot

Plot

The plot follows a familiar arc, but introduces a number of surprising twists along the way. A young Athenian of respectable family but limited financial resources (Argyrippus) has fallen in love with a youthful prostitute next door named Philaenium, who loves him in return but lives under the control of a ruthless lena (procuress) named Cleareta. The latter leases out her “daughter’s” company according to a first-to-pay, first-served principle — a

3018 words

Citation: Porter, John. "Asinaria". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 June 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=34718, accessed 19 March 2024.]

34718 Asinaria 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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