Pseudolus: The Social Conflict Between Slave and Master in the Roman World.
The play Pseudolus clearly demonstrates the social conflict that existed during the time it was written. The relationship between a master and his slave is clearly depicted. We can see this through the relationship between Pseudolus and his masters and Ballio and his slaves. We can also see the social conflict between the different age groups by examining the relationship between Simo and his son. This essay will discuss all these different kinds of disputes and why the audience might have found them humorous. When looking at social conflict within Plautu’s Pseudolus the character Ballio should definitely be looked at seeing as he bears the classic image of the abusive slave owner. The author of the play goes out of its way to make the audience disgusted by Ballio. He makes Ballo seem greedy and arrogant. He cares nothing for his fellow man except for the profit he can make out of him. He is greedy to the extent that he says that he would neglect the gods to make a profit: “Why even ...