The role of Lar Familiaris in Plautus’s Pot of Gold

The role of Lar Familiaris in Plautus’s Pot of Gold

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254-184 B.C.) composed over 100 comedies in Latin, adapting them from Greek originals. The play on which he based his Aulularia (“The Pot of Gold”) has not survived. Molière’s 17th century L’Avare (“The Miser”) is that the most famous of the later comedies inspired by the Aulularia. Like all classical drama, the Aulularia is written in verse, and certain sections are meant to be sung by the actors. we've set five of those lyrical passages to music.

In past accompaniment would are provided by an aulos, a double reed almost like an oboe. Although the characters within the Aulularia speak Latin, nearly everything else about them is Greek: The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, they need Greek names, Greek clothing, and Greek customs. The action takes place on a residential street in Athens. All of Plautus’ actors were men or boys, and that they wore masks.

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, The Aulularia would are performed without intermission, as we too perform it. The Lar (guardian god of the household) tells the audience about Euclio, a poor, stingy man who lives alone apart from an old housekeeper named Staphyla and Euclio’s daughter Phaedria, nicknamed Aula (“Pot”). Euclio has no concept Phaedria is pregnant and close to give birth. He has just discovered a pot crammed with gold and is frantic that somebody may steal it from him.

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, The Lar assures us that the pot of gold will eventually enable Phaedria to marry Lyconides, the young man who loves her and has fathered her baby. Euclio drives Staphyla out of the house, suspecting that she is after his pot of gold–when, in fact, nobody except Euclio even knows that it exists. He then leaves for the marketplace, where there's to be a free handout. Eunomia has come to go to her bachelor brother Megadorus, Euclio’s rich neighbor. She advises him to urge a wife. The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, Reluctant initially , he soon relents and decides to ask Euclio for his daughter’s hand in marriage, not knowing that she is pregnant.

As Eunomia departs, Euclio shows up and is persuaded to simply accept Megadorus’ proposal. Megadorus volunteers to buy two wedding feasts, one in his house and one in Euclio’s; he takes his slave Strobilus with him to the marketplace to assist him hire cooks and take out . The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, Euclio, after giving directions to Staphyla, leaves to travel shopping himself. Strobilus leads back from the market four silly cooks. After lamenting their bad reputation as crooks , the cooks enter Euclio’s and Megadorus’ houses. Euclio, returning to seek out his home crammed with commotion, chases everyone out, sure that his gold has been stolen.

Finding it still safe, he lets the cooks continue with their work while he carries the pot with him under his cloak. Megadorus comes on stage, reflecting on the wisdom of marrying a poor girl with no dowry. The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, Euclio, overhearing the song, is pleased with its sentiments but still suspect Megadorus of eager to marry his daughter only to urge at his gold. Megadorus leaves to organize for the marriage as Euclio goes into the shrine of Fides (“Trust” or “Faith”) to cover his pot there. Lyconides’ slave Pythodicus now appears, having been sent by his master to spy out things .

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, He boasts about his perfect behavior. Euclio, lecture himself about his gold as he leaves the shrine, is overheard by Pythodicus. The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, As soon as Euclio enters his house, the slave rushes into the shrine to steal the pot. At that moment the sound of a bleating sheep sends Euclio back into the shrine to see on the gold. Finding Pythodicus there, he drives him outand interrogates him, finally letting him go when he sees that the slave is empty-handed.

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, He decides to cover the pot during a remote grove; as he exits, he's followed secretly by Pythodicus. Lyconides and his mother Eunomia reach Megadorus’ house. Eunomia, having learned the reality from her son, goes inside with Lyconides to convince her brother to abandon his wedding plans. Pythodicus joyfully runs by with the pot he has pilfered; after him comes Euclio, bemoaning the loss of his gold.

The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, Lyconides now confesses to Euclio and reports that Phaedria has had a baby. As Euclio races inside his house to verify this, Pythodicus returns, having hidden the pot in his master’s house. The Role Of Lar Familiaris In Plautus’s Pot Of Gold, He brags to Lyconides about the theft and asks whether he can purchase his freedom with the stolen gold; outraged, Lyconides orders him to offer the pot back to Euclio. At now the text breaks off. In our production the Lar will deliver an epilogue reconstructing the lost ending of the play, and everybody will, of course, live happily ever after.

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