Roman Theater: From Plautus and Terence to Seneca

Roman Comedy

Although both tragedies and comedies were written during the period of the Republic (500-27 BCE), the work of only two comedy playwrights has survived -- Titus Plautus (254 to 184 BCE) and Publius Terentius Afer, better known in English as Terence (185 to 159 BCE). 

Plautus is remembered for his farcical comedies. We have 21 of the more than 100 plays he may have written. On the other hand, Terence's six plays, because of their simple style and high moral tone, were used as the literary models by the colleges and universities of the Renaissance.

Seven Stock Characters Plautus Used in His Comedies .

An old man, probably a miser. A young man, possibly the miser's son, who rebels against authority. Usually a pair of slaves. One smart, the other less smart. The two slaves are the source of most of the humor. The parasite. The eternal brother in law, he comes for a visit, and stays forever. The courtesan. The live in maid who knows how to "put out." The slave dealer. Often trades in women. Today we would call him a pimp. Miles Gloriosus, the braggart soldier. He talks a mighty battle, but runs at the first sign of conflict.

Roman Tragedy

Lucius Seneca (ca. 5 BCE - 65 CE), a tutor and advisor to Nero (37-68 CE), was the major playwright of the Roman Empire (27 BCE - 476 CE). Nine of his tragedies have survived. His plays were based primarily on Euripides' plays, but he also "borrowed" from Aeschylus and Sophocles.

Six Major Characteristics of Seneca's Dramas.

1.     He divided his plays into five acts with choral interludes. The interludes were not part of the play's action.

2.     He used elaborate rhetorical speeches. His characters debated, they didn't converse.

3.     He was a moral philosopher. He believed that drama should preach a moral lesson.

4.     His tragedies involved much violent action. They were filled with murder, torture, dismemberment...

5.     His tragedies respected the unity of time (plays action unfolds within 24 hours) and place (the plays actions unfolds at one location).

6.     Each of his characters was dominated by one passion (love, revenge, ambition, etc.) which brought about their downfall.

Class Discussion

The students read some of the nine plays written by Seneca. His plays were never meant to be performed. Some students were able to compare and contrast how the stories changed from a Greek playwright to a Roman one. The plays discussed by the different groups opened a window to Roman theater. These plays were: The Trojan Women, Agamemnon, Hercules Furens, The Phoenician Women and Medea.

The Trojan Women 

"Hecuba, the former queen of Troy, rolled up after they left and was completely dumb-founded on how her hood was looking." (Jackie and Daniel)

Agamemnon

"The wife get away with murder and then murders the only witness who is Agamemnon's mistress."
(Sabrina, Mirtha, Carlos, Christian Z.)

Hercules Furens

"When the curse wears off, he realizes what he has done and tries to die by suicide, but his friend Theseus convinces him not to." (Tiffany, Ashley, Anthony, Carolina).

The Phoenician Women

"Basically, Oedipus wants to die after wondering in exile from power fall, but his daughter Antigone won't let him die; she never wants to leave him." (Emmanuel, Sophia)

Medea

"With her madness consuming her, she sacrifices her sons to hurt Jason; she then throws the bodies of her kids to Jason and flies away on a dragon chariot." (Yoandy, Michelle, Wanda, Maylen, Medea).