Amphitryon
The play Amphitryon, by Plautus, revolves around a small circle of characters. The major roles in the play are those of Amphitryon, Jove, and Alcamena. Two slightly lesser roles, though of equal importance, are those of Mercury and Sosia. These two characters act as main intermediaries for their masters. This is one of the similarities I found in their roles. However, I also found many differences in these two characters. I believe the roles of Mercury and Sosia to both be important ones, with similarities as well as differences, which can be clearly seen in their relationships with their masters, the audience, and Alcamena as well. I think that both Sosia and Mercury respect their masters. Although in the beginning, both characters complain about being servants. Sosia says, "No easy job, this serving a millionaire; A rich man's servant leads a lousy life. All his nights and days it's just a constant strife"(7). This quote shows early in the play Sosia's displeasure in being a servant. Mercury complains about his service to Jove as well. When he hears Sosia complain he states, "Hey, I'm the one who should complain that way! Till Papa pressed me into service today I'd no idea what slavery meant. N
Differences between Mercury and Sosia arise in their dealings with the audience. I think that these characters' monologues to the audience give insight into their personality. Sosia's dealings with the audience make him out to be a coward as well as a fool. When Sosia hears Mercury talking of harming someone coming his way, Sosia cowers to the audience and says, "I'm so scared, I'm numb all over!"(16). When Sosia gathers enough courage to confront Mercury, the god easily convinces him that he is not himself. Sosia says to the audience, "He's convinced me. I'll have to find another name!"(22). In almost all his dealings with the audience, Sosia is baffled and dumb struck. The audience knows what is happening so Sosia is made out to be a dumb character. Conversely, Mercury's dealings with the audience show him to be a cunning trickster. Being a god, Mercury has everything planned out and reveals his plans to the audience. On scarring away Sosia, he says to the audience, "this job went off very nicely"(24). Mercury's monologues to the audience are almost like narration as he tells them what happens and what will happen. Enjoying this chaos he helped create, he says to the audience: ow, he's been used to being a slave."(8). Despite these complaints about slavery, I think both of them enjoy serving their masters but for different reasons. Early in the play Sosia tells the audience of how his master "led us like a wonder"(9). He refers to
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Approximate Word count = 984
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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