The fresh puella , who’s the object of the younger companion?s love and the slave?s work and you can whose marriage frequently has the delighted conclude from new funny, ‘s the least remarkable of one’s around three stereotypes. You will find split up brand new characterizations of the puella toward one or two chief sub-teams. The foremost is the students lady who, of the area emphasis and the restricted hopes of their stereotype, never looks on-stage. This is actually the instance which have Casina, about enjoy of this label, over whose coming a wife and husband competition by proxy compliment of their submissives. From the Trinummus , a couple more youthful unnamed girl is betrothed inside absentia with the several young men whoever contrasting life-style is of some characteristics datingmentor.org/escort/san-francisco/ into the ethical of your funny. Likewise unnamed ‘s the more youthful maiden who was raped by the Diniarchus and whoever man try stolen from the an excellent prostitute from the Truculentus ; the maiden’s father, upon understanding the fresh new label off her rapist, timely purchases your to help you get married the woman or take the woman house, punishing him by detatching the amount of his daughter’s dowry. To that particular category plus belongs Phaedria, new raped girl of your own miser from the Aulularia ; even when their title appears in the directory of letters and you will she could possibly can be found in the new shed closing part of the gamble, nevertheless her coming was already felt like versus the woman presence and you may she will build no appreciable sum with the step of the use her very own behalf.
The very last work of your own play always will bring the fresh new recognition regarding her freeborn condition, the lady repairs in order to her family, along with her betrothal so you’re able to her spouse
This community of missing maidens provides the most illuminating proof on brand new puella for the comedy. While the she’s entirely within the control away from the lady father or protector up until the woman is paid to this lady partner, she actually is present in an optimistic light, due to the fact good paragon away from socially approved females virtues. Hence the girl identity, also the lady concur and also her physical visibility, are unimportant for the comic action. When you find yourself the girl predicament try interesting, she by herself is not. The woman is, from the conditions of male contenders on her possession during the the latest Casina , an effective ” praeda .? This lady some property, after that, was this lady birth, her pure beauty, this lady chastity, the girl dowry — and her silence.
He’s an excellent Roman male’s fantasy — absolute, well-born, and beautiful, this community is obtainable, tuned in to men preferences, and you may predicated on their couples
Another set of females in puella label promote you which includes important most facts, both by analogy by examine. These types of maidens cam for themselves, even though they parrot the newest virtues cherished by Roman males. Right here we discover this new puella who’s a contradiction with regards to: taken from a great family unit members within the youngsters, she spent my youth to be a great prostitute. Within this populous class try Selenium from the Cistellaria , Planesium regarding the Curculio , Palaestra in the Rudens , Adelphasium and you may Anterastilis on Poenulus , and you can Telestis regarding Epidicus . Even in the event these types of young women try smaller couch potato versus previous group talked about, it, also, manifest this new helpless vulnerability of one’s puella , due to their youthfulness, inexperience, and you will servant reputation. It mix the brand new virtues you’ll need for the fresh new nupta , or bride-to-be, with the submit decisions and you will desire having satisfaction best in order to a courtesan. All the women within class displays brand new properties suitable so you’re able to the woman free- produced status to help you an elevated otherwise lesser degree. It mix of stereotypes are least effective regarding the profile from Adelphasium, whom turns out a beneficial meretrix however,, for the designated compare to the woman sister, speaks excess eg a great puella . The girl ingenuae mores , otherwise good comportment, has reached chances with her reputation due to the fact she exclaims on dilemma and you may bother of experiencing a lady up to, because she ruefully comments towards the expenses sustained by leno , the brand new pimp, when you look at the dressing up her or him on the event from Venus, and as she after primly declares that modesty is the greatest embellishment to have a great meretrix .
Leave a Reply