Mostellāria (‘ghost’), Roman comedy by Plautus, probably adapted from a Greek comedy by Philemon (see COMEDY, GREEK
The plot depends on the effrontery and resourceful lying of the slave Trānio. Philolachēs, during his father's absence abroad, purchases from a pimp and then frees a girl whom he loves, borrowing money for the purpose from a moneylender, and brings her to live in his father's house. The father returns unexpectedly. Tranio, to prevent him entering the house and discovering what is going on, pretends that the house is haunted by the ghost of a murdered man and has consequently been vacated. But the moneylender appears and demands his money. Tranio tells the father that Philolaches has borrowed it to buy the house of their neighbour Simō, and Simo is induced by further lies to allow it to be inspected. In the end Tranio's lies are exposed, and the father is appeased.
Mostellaria
| Classical Literature Companion: Mostellāria |
| Wikipedia: Mostellaria |
Mostellaria is a play by Roman author, Plautus. Its name translates from Latin as [The] Little Ghost, and often appears in translations as The Haunted House. It is a comedy with a very linear plot. It is set in the city of Athens, on a street in front of the houses of Theopropides and Simo.
Contents |
Characters
Main characters
- Theopropides - an Athenian merchant
- Philolaches - Theopropides' 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
Minor characters
- Grumio - Country slave, owned by Theopropides
- Sphaerio - Slave owned by Theopropides
- Scapha - Philematium's attendant
- Delphium - Callidamates' girlfriend
Plot
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 offers to repay the debt, thus allowing the father to forgive his son. Even Tranio is forgiven.
References
- Plautus, The Rope and Other Plays, translated by E. F. Watling, Penguin, London, 1964, ISBN 0-14-044136-0.
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 | The unexpected always happens |
| Plautus (Ancient Roman writer) |
| Tarantella, for male chorus & orchestra (or piano, 4 hands) (Classical Work) |
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 | Classical Literature Companion. The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature. Copyright © 1993, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- The unexpected always happens
- Plautus (Ancient Roman writer)
- Tarantella, for male chorus & orchestra (or piano, 4 hands) (Classical Work)
- The Haunted House (film)
- The Ghost
- Trinummus
- Poenulus
- Curculio (play)
- 2nd Century B.C. (chronology)
- Mercator (play)
- Asinaria
- House party
- Menaechmi
- Pseudolus
