Are you struggling to understand Plautus’ “Pot of Gold” (Aulularia)? This Roman comedy about a miser and his buried treasure remains relevant even after 2,000 years. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the plot, characters, themes, and lasting influence of this theatrical masterpiece that has shaped comedy throughout the centuries.
The Historical Context of Plautus’ Pot of Gold
Titus Maccius Plautus wrote “Aulularia” (The Pot of Gold) around 195 BCE during the Roman Republic, a time when Roman theater was heavily influenced by Greek New Comedy. Understanding this historical backdrop helps us appreciate the play’s cultural significance.
Roman Comedy in the Republican Era
- Roman comedy (fabula palliata) adapted Greek plots with Roman sensibilities
- Performances took place during religious festivals and public games
- Actors wore masks and exaggerated costumes to represent stock characters
- All-male casts performed for diverse audiences of citizens, slaves, and foreigners
Plautus and His Theatrical Innovations
Plautus wasn’t just translating Greek plays—he was transforming them. His distinctive style featured:
- Musical elements with song and dance (cantica)
- Meta-theatrical awareness (characters acknowledging the audience)
- Exaggerated physical comedy and wordplay
- Roman cultural references despite Greek settings
As scholar E.F. Watling notes, “Plautus took the refined art form of Greek New Comedy and transformed it into a raucous, energetic entertainment for Roman audiences.”
Plot Summary and Character Analysis
“The Pot of Gold” revolves around an old miser named Euclio who discovers a pot of gold buried in his hearth and becomes obsessively protective of it.
The Central Plot: A Miser and His Gold
The story unfolds through several interconnected events:
- The household god (Lar Familiaris) reveals he placed gold in Euclio’s hearth to reward Euclio’s daughter’s piety
- Euclio discovers the gold and becomes paranoid about theft
- Meanwhile, Lyconides’ uncle Megadorus wants to marry Euclio’s daughter Phaedria
- Euclio suspects Megadorus wants his gold, not his daughter
- Euclio repeatedly hides and moves his treasure, growing increasingly anxious
- Complications arise when Lyconides confesses to having impregnated Phaedria
- Lyconides’ slave steals the pot of gold
- After much confusion, the gold is returned
Unfortunately, the manuscript of the play is incomplete—we’re missing the final scenes, though scholars have reconstructed the likely ending based on references in other works.
Key Characters and Their Functions
The play features several stock character types common in Roman comedy:
| Character | Type | Function in Plot |
|---|---|---|
| Euclio | Senex (Old Man) | The miserly protagonist whose obsession drives the plot |
| Phaedria | Virgo (Young Woman) | Euclio’s daughter, pregnant but virtuous |
| Lyconides | Adulescens (Young Man) | The romantic lead who impregnated Phaedria |
| Megadorus | Senex (Old Man) | Wealthy older man who proposes to Phaedria |
| Staphyla | Anus (Old Woman) | Euclio’s long-suffering servant |
| Strobilus | Servus callidus (Clever Slave) | Lyconides’ slave who steals the gold |
| Lar Familiaris | Divinity | Household god who delivers the prologue |
Each character fulfills specific dramatic functions while contributing to the comedy’s social commentary. Euclio, in particular, embodies the vice of avarice taken to comic extremes.
Major Themes and Literary Techniques
“The Pot of Gold” explores several universal themes that remain relevant to modern audiences.
Avarice and Its Consequences
The central theme revolves around greed and its destructive power:
- Euclio’s obsession with wealth makes him suspicious of everyone
- His miserliness leads to social isolation and paranoia
- The pot of gold brings him anxiety rather than happiness
- The play suggests wealth has value only when properly used
Euclio’s famous line captures his distress: “I am ruined, destroyed, murdered! Where shall I run? Where shall I not run? Stop him! Stop him! Who? I don’t know, I can’t see, I’m blind!”
Social Class and Economic Commentary
Plautus uses comedy to explore serious social issues:
- Contrasts between wealthy citizens and struggling plebeians
- The corrupting influence of sudden wealth
- Marriage as economic transaction
- Tensions between masters and slaves
Comic Techniques and Theatrical Devices
Plautus employs several techniques to generate humor:
- Verbal Comedy
- Puns and wordplay
- Alliteration
- Exaggerated language
- Physical Comedy
- Slapstick elements
- Chase scenes
- Exaggerated gestures
- Structural Comedy
- Dramatic irony (audience knows what characters don’t)
- Mistaken identities
- Parallel plot complications
The Literary Legacy of Pot of Gold
“The Pot of Gold” has influenced comedy for centuries, serving as a model for later writers and establishing character types still recognizable today.
Influence on Later Playwrights
Plautus’ miserly character has inspired numerous literary descendants:
- Molière’s “The Miser” (1668) draws directly from Plautus
- Ben Jonson’s “The Alchemist” incorporates similar themes
- Shakespeare borrowed Plautine plot elements for “The Comedy of Errors”
- Modern sitcoms continue to employ variations of the miser character
The Evolution of the Miser Character
Euclio established a character type that has evolved across centuries:
- Medieval literature: The greedy merchant
- Renaissance comedy: The elderly miser
- Victorian literature: Scrooge-like figures
- Modern media: Wealthy but miserly business figures
The miser character persists because it represents a universal human failing—valuing wealth over human connection.
Translations and Modern Productions
“The Pot of Gold” continues to be performed and translated:
- Contemporary translations aim to capture Plautus’ wordplay
- Modern productions often update the setting while maintaining the core themes
- University theater departments regularly stage the play
- Adaptations exist in various languages and cultural contexts
Studying and Appreciating Pot of Gold Today
How can modern students engage with this ancient text in meaningful ways?
Reading Strategies for Ancient Comedy
When approaching “The Pot of Gold,” consider these tips:
- Research the historical context before reading
- Familiarize yourself with stock character types
- Read aloud to appreciate the wordplay and rhythm
- Compare different translations to understand interpretative differences
- Visualize the physical comedy that accompanies the dialogue
Relevant Themes for Contemporary Readers
Despite its age, the play addresses timeless human concerns:
- Economic anxiety and wealth inequality
- Family obligations versus personal desires
- Generational conflicts
- Trust and suspicion in social relationships
- The question of what truly constitutes value in human life
Comparative Analysis Opportunities
“The Pot of Gold” offers rich opportunities for comparative study:
- Compare with Greek New Comedy sources
- Contrast with other Plautine comedies
- Analyze alongside later works about misers and money
- Study adaptations across different cultural contexts
Key Takeaways
- “The Pot of Gold” exemplifies Roman comedy while revealing social tensions in Republican Rome
- The play established the character type of the obsessive miser that continues to influence literature
- Plautus innovated within the comedic form, adding musical elements and meta-theatrical awareness
- The central theme—that obsession with wealth destroys happiness—remains relevant today
- The play’s incomplete ending reminds us of the fragmentary nature of our inheritance from classical antiquity
FAQ: Common Questions About Pot of Gold
What happens at the end of the play?
The original manuscript is incomplete, ending abruptly with Lyconides trying to recover the gold his slave stole. Reconstructions suggest Euclio likely recovers his gold and eventually gifts it to his daughter Phaedria as a dowry when she marries Lyconides, learning that relationships matter more than wealth.
Why is the play called “Aulularia” in Latin?
“Aulularia” derives from “aula” or “aulula,” meaning a small pot or jar. The diminutive form emphasizes the contrast between the small physical object and its enormous influence on the characters’ lives.
How accurate are modern translations of Plautus?
Translating Plautus presents significant challenges due to his wordplay, Roman-specific jokes, and musical elements. Modern translations prioritize different aspects—some focus on scholarly accuracy, while others aim to capture the comedic spirit for performance.
Was Plautus’ work considered “high culture” in Rome?
Unlike Greek tragedy, Roman comedy was popular entertainment rather than elite culture. Plautus wrote for broad audiences and incorporated elements that would appeal across social classes, though his linguistic cleverness was likely most appreciated by educated spectators.
How did Roman staging differ from modern theater?
Roman comedies were performed in temporary wooden structures or in front of temples during festivals. Actors wore masks representing stock characters, performances included musical accompaniment, and the staging was relatively simple compared to modern productions.
Conclusion
Plautus’ “Pot of Gold” endures as more than just an ancient artifact—it remains a vibrant exploration of human folly. Through Euclio’s comic miserliness, we recognize our own anxieties about security and worth. The play’s lasting appeal lies in its ability to make us laugh while questioning our own attachments to material possessions.
For students of literature, “The Pot of Gold” offers an accessible entry point into classical drama while demonstrating how theatrical traditions evolve across centuries. Its influence extends from Molière to modern sitcoms, proving that good comedy—and human nature—remains remarkably consistent across the millennia.
What aspects of Euclio’s character do you recognize in modern media or literature? Join the conversation about how ancient comedies continue to shape our understanding of human nature and social dynamics.
Related Reads:
- Waiting for Godot – Explore another influential play that examines human nature
- The Portrait of a Lady 11th RBSE – Discover character analysis techniques for other literary works
- What is Literary Theory? – Learn frameworks for analyzing classical texts
