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Alone on stage, Pseudolus boasts of his ability to carry about schemes. Soon Pseudolus encounters Harpax, the Macedonian soldier’s slave, who is looking for Ballio. Pseudolus pretends to be Ballio’s slave, Surus, and tells Harpax he can leave the money for Phoenicium with him. Harpax refuses, but he does leave a sealed letter from his master.
Pseudolus is a bit anxious about Simia succeeding in duping Ballio. Simia is confident to the point of arrogance and is annoyed by Pseudolus' anxieties. Pseudolus takes Simia to meet Ballio and the scene switches between their interaction and Pseudolus' commentary as he watches the events unfold. The plan threatens to come unraveled when Ballio ...
Sep 5, 2023 · Summary. Pseudolus was written by Titus Maccius Plautus and is one of the oldest plays that survives from ancient Rome. The play begins with a warning that it’s long. After that, the story opens ...
Sep 5, 2023 · Pseudolus is a comedy with many elements of farce. While it pokes fun at the individual characters’ foibles, and its action hinges on stock devices such as deceit, disguise, and mistaken ...
He worries that Simia will turn his “wily weapons against [him]” (1021), that Simia will disappear or “join the enemy” (1027), that Simo will catch them in their scheme, and that Harpax will show up before Simia is able to leave with Phoenicium. Pseudolus nervously considers how long it’s taking for Simia to emerge, saying his “heart has packed its bag and is all ready / To seek ...
Often, insults are self-deprecating, as is the case between conniving slaves Pseudolus and Simia: when Simia assures Pseudolus he’s “got the scam right in” (942) his chest, Pseudolus exclaims, “What a fine fellow!” (943) to which Simia responds, “You can’t mean either of us” (943). Characters in Pseudolus are brazenly self-aware, and at times seem almost to brag about their ...
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While Pseudolus is rejoicing on stage, Calidorus returns with two helpers: his friend Charinus and Charinus’ slave Simia. They decide that, instead of trying to find 20 minae to buy Phoenicium, Simia should dress up like Harpax and use the stolen letter to fool Ballio into giving Phoenicium away to the wrong messenger.
