To leaven its steady diet of paradigms and ennobling maxims, the authors turned to Roman comedy and elegy for inspiration and created this playlet in the style of Roman comedy. Wheelock's book, originally designed as a review or self-teaching text, is very efficient-and resolutely dull, as generations of glassy-eyed freshmen will attest. Its origins lie in the two authors' struggle to find something to enliven their teaching of Wheelock's Latin Grammar (the current title of this standard text) at Berkeley in the early 1980's. The playwrights make obvious use of Plautus' stock character, such as the clever slave (Dolia) and the old men (there are two old men character-types in Plautus' works).By Mary Whitlock Blundell and Ann Cumming revised editionĪuricula Meretricula is a brief but snappy comedy (it plays easily in under a half hour) written in Latin and designed to accompany the teaching of a first semester Latin course. It intentionally has many similarities to the works of Plautus. Historical InfluenceĪuricula Meretricula was written as a simple Plautian play. The final scene, scene X, shows an inebriated Malacus comforting Ballio on his financial loss. He is initially interested in purchasing her, but after seeing a ring on her hand, Malacus realizes that Auricula is actually his daughter, whom he lost 10 years prior in a storm. In scene IX, Malacus Senex visits the brothel of Ballio, where he discovers Auricula. The scene ends with Marcus saying that he must hang himself, but that first he must buy rope. Silex, Marcus's father, arrives in scene VIII and tells Marcus of his approaching marriage (Roman marriage was frequently arranged) Marcus protests, saying that he is in love, but his father refuses. Dolia then fools Pugnax into loving her, thereby saving Auricula's and Marcus's relationship, or so it seems. In scene VII, Pugnax, trying to find Auricula, finds Dolia instead. Edax accompanys him, and has a conversation with Marcus. Pugnax then arrives to claim Auricula in scene VI. Afterwards, in scene V, the play follows Laurina and Auricula as Laurina explains to Auricula her philosophy that true love is not valuable. In Scene IV, Pseudolus, trying to help his master, turns to Dolia, his girlfriend, for help. Ballio takes the insults as compliments and then promises to kill Marcus if he ever sees the lovers together again. He informs Auricula that he has sold her "services" to a soldier, at which point Pseudolus hurls insults at him. Scene III opens with Ballio rudely interrupting the lovers. In scene II, Auricula tells Marcus of her situation. Ballio is shocked when Auricula tells him that she is in love with a poor poet named Marcus. In the opening scene, her greedy pimp, Ballio, demands money from her, but she has none. His last name also means "old man." Story Īuricula Meretricula tells the story of a young prostitute named Auricula. His last name means "old man." Malacus SenexĪ rich old man. His last name means "parasite" he is a leech, a mooch. His name implies that he has fighting prowess. Laurina LenaĪ female pimp Lena is the feminine form of leno. Dolia ServaĪ female slave and Pseudolus's girlfriend. His name implies that he is false and untrustworthy. His last name means "young man." He is a poor poet and Auricula's lover. His last name means "pimp." He owns Auricula. The heroine of the story, her name literally means "little gold prostitute," i.e.
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