Adelphoe, also written Adelphoi and Adelphi (English: The brothers) is a play by Terence, a Roman
playwright. It was first performed in 160 BC at the funeral
of Aemilius Paulus.
Adelphoe aroused controversy since Terence added in it a scene from a play by Diphilus. Conservative writers, since then, objected to the declared freedom with which Terence used his
models, which originated rumors that his plays were not his own work but were composed with the help of unnamed nobles. This
charge is seemingly not plausible, but was left unanswered by Terence.
Terence's The Brothers is arguably the most interesting of his six surviving comedies, because of the intricacy of his
characterization, the complex interplay of characters, and the unresolved debate on the best form of child-rearing.
Plot Synopsis
Outside the city of Athens, the farmer Demea has trusted the upbringing of one of his sons
Aeschinus to Micio, his bachelor brother city-dweller who lives the life of a man-about-town. Demea himself oversees the moral
education of his other son Ctesipho. He keeps on the farm and brings Ctesipho up very strictly into a young manhood that is
supposed to be a model of right living. Aeschinus, on the other hand, under the care of his lax and pleasure-loving uncle, has
acquired a reputation for wildness. In following his hedonistic ways, he has betrayed (impregnated) an Athenian girl, Pamphila,
of good but impoverished family. Being kindhearted by nature and somewhat in love with the girl, he has agreed to marry her but
has not confessed his predicament to his uncle.
Meanwhile, Ctesipho, who because of his strict upbringing is all the wilder when he gets away from his father's supervision,
has been captivated by the charms of a Music-Girl (slave) named Bacchis. He does everything he can to hide his love from his
conservative father.
Aeschinus aids and abets his country brother in this affair even to letting it be thought that he is the one involved. Finally
he even carries off the Music Girl from her master, the slave-dealer Sannio, and brings her to his uncle's house where his
brother may enjoy her company with less risk of discovery.
Unfortunately, Pamphila’s mother, Sostrata, hears of Aeschinus’s actions with Bacchis and assumes he intends to break his
promise to her daughter; her kinsmen report the whole affair to Demea. The countryman, who has come to town to look for Ctesipho,
decides that he will go to Micio’s house to confront his son and reproach Micio for the way he is allowing Aeschinus to treat his
erstwhile sweetheart. It is only through most amusing subterfuges of Syrus, Micio's trusted slave, that Demea is prevented from
entering the house and discovering Ctesipho with his Music Girl.
In the end, Aeschinus is permitted to marry, as he has promised. Demea, convinced that honey catches more flies than vinegar,
(pretends to) become as agreeable as his brother, Micio. On the theory that all work and no play is doubtless a mistake, he
permits Ctesipho to take his Music Girl out to the farm. And, most unbelievably, Micio is persuaded to give up his carefree
bachelor life and marry the mother of Aeschinus' wife. Through his change in heart, Demea attempts to show Micio that what he
felt was kindness was partly him being a pushover (which resulted him in agreeing to marry Sostrata, whom he finds very
unattractive). As usual in such comedies, Syrus, the trusted slave, contrives to be given his freedom together with the
wherewithal to set himself up.
Theme
The play deals with a perennial domestic problem - how fathers should relate to teenage children - and raises the wider
question of ends and means in education.
Structure/Style
- Terence's language is notably plain, without the lyricism, outrageous puns, coinages, plays on words, the out of control
assonance and alliteration associated with the plays of Plautus or other Roman playwrights.
- The lack of flashiness, the author's seeming lack of interest in the problems and demands of the Roman theatre and its rowdy
audience, are probably among the reasons why Terence's audiences occasionally ran out on him to see more exciting sideshows at
the games (twice, in the case of Hecyra, another of Terence's plays).
External links
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