The Brothers Menaechmus

Do you agree with the view that comic laughters in plautus' the brothers menaechmus reaffirms the faultlines of gender and slavery in roman society rather than critiques them? With reference to the text.

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Slavery is a theme throughout the play, with each character being a slave to something or someone. Most obviously, Messenio is Menaechmus of Syracuse’s slave. However, other characters are enslaved as well. Peniculus, for example, is a slave to his appetite, doing whatever it takes to ensure he gets to feast. Indeed, sating his appetite is his only concern. Menaechmus of Epidamnus is a slave to his social obligations and responsibilities. Menaechmi of Syracuse is enslaved by his search for his brother (Messenio complains at the beginning of the play that he and Menaechmus of Syracuse have been searching for his brother for six years).