Pseudolus

Pseudolus
Written by	Plautus
Characters	Pseudolus, slave of Calidorus Calidorus Simo, father of Calidorus Callipho - neighbor of Simo Phoenicium, prostitute Ballio, Phoenicium's pimp Harpax, slave of an officer Charinus, Calidorus' friend Simia, slave of Charinus Young Slave, of Ballio Cook Courtesans Attendant Slaves
Setting	a street in Athens, before the houses of Simo, Callipho, and Ballio

Pseudolus is a play by the ancient Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. It is one of the earliest examples of Roman literature. The play begins with the shortest prologue of any of the known plays of Plautus, though it is not known whether Plautus wrote this prologue himself or if it was added later. Pseudolus was first shown in 191 B.C. during the Megalesian Festival, which was a celebration for the Greek Goddess Rhea. The temple for worship of Rhea in Rome was completed during the same year in time for the festival. Plautus pulling his plays from Greek plays and influence, it is no wonder that he debuted this play during the Megalesian Festival.

Simo - An Athenian gentleman

Calidorus - Simo's son

Pseudolus - Simo's chief slave

Callipho - a neighbor and friend of Simo

Charinus - a friend of Calidorus

Ballio - a pimp

Phoenicium - (mute) a girl in the possession of Ballio and loved by Calidorus

Harpax - an officer's orderly

Simia - a slave

The play starts with the prologue, which is a warning to the audience that the play is long and now is the time to stretch their legs because they are about to be sitting for a long time.

Once the play starts Calidorus and Pseudolus enter the stage, Calidorus is visibly upset. After Pseudolus pushes his master's son to tell him what is wrong, Calidorus shows him a letter he received. Pseudolus first mocks the poor handwriting it is written in then reads the letter, which says that Calidorus' lover Phoenicium, a prostitute, has been sold and the man who is supposed to come with the last of the money to pay for her and pick her up for her new master is coming very soon. Calidorus obviously wants to save her but he has no money of his own and his father won't loan him any to help save her. He turns to Pseudolus, who is his father’s chief slave, for help. Pseudolus doesn't have the money they require to buy her, but thinks he can improvise a plan to get it and to save Phoenicium. At this time, Calidorus tells Pseudolus to be quiet, saying he hears the pimp Ballio, Phoenicium's master, leaving his house. Ballio enters the stage addressing his slaves, telling them that they aren't worth their keep and that they don't know how to behave. He claims beating them hurts him more than it hurts them and that they will steal anything if given the chance.

Ballio begins organizing his slaves and making preparations for his own birthday celebration, and says he will be off to the market to strike a deal with the fishmonger. After he organizes his slaves and assigns them all specific tasks for the day, he calls his prostitutes out of the house. He orders them to make themselves the most desirable companions for the day, and to earn him supplies based on their status with men in different markets—specifically, grain, meat, oil, and lard. Ballio promises swift and decisive punishment if his demands are not met.

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