Mostellaria

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Mostellaria is a play by Roman author, Plautus. Its name translates from Latin as 'The Ghost'. It is a comedy with a very linear plot. It is set in the city of Athens, on a street infront of the houses of Theopropides and Simo.

1 Characters
- 1.1 Main Characters
- 1.2 Minor Characters
2 Plot
3 References

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main Characters

Theopropides - an Athenian merchant
Philolaches - Theopropdies son
Tranio - Slave owned by Theopropides
Philematium - A courtesan who has been set free by Philolaches
Callidamates - Friend of Philolaches
Simo - Theopropides neighbour
Misargyrides - A moneylender

[edit] Minor Characters

Grumio - Country slave, owned by Theopropides
Sphaerio - Slave owned by Theopropides
Scapha - Philematiums attendant
Delphium - Callidamates girlfriend

[edit] Plot

In it a young man called Philolaches is having a great time while his father is away on business. Philolaches has also borrowed a lot of money to buy the freedom of the slave-girl he loves. One day he is having a house party with many friends, when his slave Tranio interrupts the merry-making to announce that Philolaches' father has returned unexpectedly and will arrive from the harbour at any minute. Amid the general panic, Tranio has an idea. He hustles Philolaches and his friends into the house and locks the door. The father now arrives. Tranio greets him respectfully but pretends that it is dangerous to enter the house because it is haunted.

Unfortunately, at this moment a money-lender turns up to claim the money that Philolaches borrowed. Tranio thinks quickly and pretends that the money was borrowed to buy the house next door. Even when Philolaches' father meets the real owner of the house, Tranio manages to hide the truth for some time, but he is found out at last and jumps onto the top of an altar to escape punishment. All ends happily, however, when one of Philolaches' friends arrives and persuades the father to forgive his son. Even Tranio is forgiven.