The Eunuch story
Eunuchus (The Eunuch) is a comedy written by the 2nd century BC Roman playwright Terence featuring a complex plot of familial misunderstanding. It was Terence's most successful play during his lifetime. Suetonius notes how the play was staged twice in a single day and won Terence 8,000 sesterces. The play is a loose translation of one written by Menander in Greek.
19 total · 7 major · 12 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| love triangle | major | Phaedria and Thraso were both vying for the courtesan Thais' romantic attentions. In the end, Phaedria agreed to share Thais with Thraso. |
| male-male rivalry | major | The Athenian citizen Phaedria and the brash soldier Thraso were rivaling over their common love interest Thais. Although they they weren't particularly acquainted with each other, they knew of each other and were concerned. |
| master and slave | major | The slave Parmeno was advising both brothers Phaedria and Chaerea on how to woo their respective love interests. |
| obsessive love | major | One storyline follows the love-sick young man Phaedria as his love interest Thais toys with his heart. |
| reunion with a loved one | major | One storyline culminated with Chremes being reunited with his long lost sister Pamphila. |
| romantic jealousy | major | It seemed that Thais used Thraso as a pawn to instill jealously in her lover Phaedria. Nevertheless, Phaedria and Thraso were exceedingly jealous of one another. |
| unrequited love | major | At first it appeared Phaedria was one-sidedly besotted with Thais. Then it transpired that Thraso was more so. |
| Ancient Roman mythology | minor | Chaerea described a picture of Jupiter pouring the shower of gold into Danaë's lap. |
| brother and brother | minor | Phaedria was the elder brother of Chaerea. |
| brother and sister | minor | Chremes was happy to be reunited with his estranged female sibling, Pamphila. |