The Pot of Gold, a play by Plautus, is set in ancient Rome and tells the story of a miserly old man named Euclio who discovers a pot of gold. Here we have provided Pot of Gold questions and answers: SAQ and LAQ
Short Questions and Answers(SAQ)
Who discovered pot gold?
The discovery of the pot of gold is a central event in Plautus’ famous play, The Aulularia. Euclio, the play’s protagonist, is the one who discovers the pot of gold and becomes overwhelmed by it. While Euclio is not a bad person, his sudden wealth causes him to become paranoid and irrational, leading to a series of comical events in the play.
Why is Staphyla fed up with Euclio?
In the play, Staphyla is shown to be frustrated with Euclio. This is evident from the very beginning of the story when Euclio starts arguing with Staphyla for no apparent reason. Staphyla is taken aback by Euclio’s behaviour as he scolds her without any justification. The reason behind his outburst is his obsession with the pot of gold, which he wants to keep safe. However, Staphyla is unaware of this and finds his behaviour intolerable, causing her to become fed up with him.
Why does Megadorus want to marry at last?
At the start of the play, Megadorus is against the idea of marriage, especially between two elderly people. So, when his sister Eunomia proposes marriage to him, he is surprised. However, later on, he changes his mind and decides that if he were to marry, he would choose Euclio’s young daughter, Phaedria.
“What do you know of my character?” – What does Megadorus want to say to Euclio here?
Megadorus develops romantic feelings for Phaedria, Euclio’s daughter, but struggles with how to communicate this to her father. Eventually, Megadorus seizes an opportunity to share his thoughts with Euclio. After listening to Megadorus, Euclio comments on his positive family background and kind-hearted nature, ultimately expressing no objections to Megadorus’s intentions towards Phaedria.
Why was Euclio angry with Staphyla in The Pot of Gold?
In the opening scene of the play, Euclio is seen angrily beating his servant, Staphyla. When asked why he’s attacking her, Euclio doesn’t give her a proper answer and continues to beat her, even threatening to have his old retainer hanged. Euclio feels it’s his right to beat his servant, as he is the master and she is the servant.
However, we soon discover that Euclio’s behaviour is due to his paranoia about his pot of gold being stolen. He has hidden the treasure in a secret location but is still worried that someone will discover it. Euclio thinks Staphyla is cheating him, wanting to find out where he has hidden the gold and steal it. Instead of being cautious, Euclio’s violent behaviour towards Staphyla increases the likelihood of her discovering his secret, putting his treasure in danger.
What does Euclio buy for his daughter’s wedding?
Euclio sets out to purchase supplies for his daughter’s wedding feast, but returns empty-handed as he finds everything at the market too expensive. He shares that he has only managed to buy a packet of incense and a bunch of flowers. These items will be used to adorn the household altar as his daughter seeks the blessings of the household god.
Why does Lyconides want to meet Euclio?
Lyconides, a key character in Plautus’ The Pot of Gold, is portrayed as a sensible and rational individual by the playwright. As we read the play, we learn that he is secretly involved with Phaedria, Euclio’s daughter. We also discover that Megadorus intends to marry Phaedria, but Lyconides’ mother dissuades Megadorus so that her own son can marry Phaedria. Following Megadorus’ advice, Lyconides manages to retrieve the pot of gold that his slave had stolen. Now, he wishes to return the pot of gold to Euclio and ask for Phaedria’s hand in marriage. Thus, Lyconides seeks to meet with Euclio.
Why does Lar Familiaris give the pot of gold to Euclio?
Euclio receives the pot of gold as a gift from his household deity, Lar Familiaris, because Euclio’s daughter has been showing great devotion and regularly paying tribute to the household god. Impressed by her piety, the god decides to bestow the wealth upon Euclio, enabling him to arrange the necessary dowry for his daughter’s marriage.
whom did Euclio suspect for his pot of gold?
Euclio was suspicious of several people whom he believed could potentially steal his pot of gold. These included his housekeeper, Megadorus, the cooks employed in his household, and ultimately, the slave who ended up stealing the pot of gold.
Explain the character of Phaedria.
Phaedria is a dutiful and committed servant to her father’s household deity. It is her devotion that prompts the deity to bestow upon her father the pot of gold. However, Phaedria has recently been sexually assaulted by Lyconides, a powerful aristocrat who the deity thinks should wed her. Megadorus is also vying for Phaedria’s hand in marriage, and he secures her father’s approval to do so. Staphyla, Phaedria’s loyal servant, is dismayed by this news, aware that her mistress is pregnant as a result of the assault. Eventually, Lyconides changes his mind and decides he wants to marry Phaedria, causing Megadorus to relinquish his claim on her. Throughout the play, Phaedria remains largely silent and is portrayed as a prize to be won by the men. There is little indication that any of the men genuinely care for her, and even her father appears to value his wealth more than his daughter’s happiness, despite the fact that her devotion led to the gift of the cherished pot of gold.
Long Questions and Answers(LAQ)
Give a character sketch of Euclio in The Pot of Gold by Plautus.
Euclio is the main character and protagonist of The Pot of Gold by Plautus. He is an old man who is very miserly and obsessed with money. Here is a character sketch of Euclio based on his actions and words in the play:
- Stingy and Miserly: Euclio is incredibly stingy and thrifty. He is obsessed with his money and is unwilling to spend it on anything, even basic necessities like food and clothing. He lives a very frugal and austere lifestyle, hoarding his wealth and constantly worrying about losing it.
- Paranoid: Euclio is also very paranoid and suspicious of others, especially when it comes to his money. He goes to great lengths to protect his hidden treasure, including hiding it in various places around his house and garden and constantly checking to make sure it’s still there.
- Fearful: Despite his obsession with money, Euclio is also very fearful of losing it or being caught with it. He becomes increasingly anxious and paranoid as the play progresses, worrying that others will discover his secret and steal his gold.
- Cunning: Despite his fears and anxieties, Euclio is also quite cunning and resourceful. He is able to outsmart and deceive other characters in the play, such as his neighbour Lyconides, whom he tricks into giving him his daughter’s hand in marriage.
- Ultimately, however, Euclio’s greed and obsession with money lead to his downfall. He becomes so obsessed with protecting his treasure that he becomes blind to the needs and desires of others, including his own daughter. In the end, he is left alone and miserable, having lost everything that truly mattered in life.
What is a character sketch of Megadorus?
Megadorus provides an interesting character sketch in The Pot of Gold by Plautus, as he demonstrates the contrast between love and money. Despite being a wealthy old neighbour of Euclio, Megadorus is portrayed as a good-natured man who values love over material possessions.
Unlike other characters who desire to marry a rich woman of high society, Megadorus disapproves of such a union, knowing that such women tend to be demanding and wasteful with money. He satirizes these women for their extravagant tastes and frivolous attitudes towards money. However, despite his disapproval, Megadorus is encouraged by his sister Eunomia to settle down, get married, and have children.
Instead of marrying a wealthy woman, Megadorus falls in love with Phaedria, a young woman in poverty. His attraction to her highlights his genuine and compassionate nature. In a selfless act, Megadorus gives up his own marriage to Phaedria so that his nephew, Lyconides, can marry her instead.
Overall, Megadorus’ character sketch is that of a kind and generous man who values love and compassion over wealth and material possessions.
What picture of the contemporary slave system do you get from “The Pot of Gold”?
Plautus, a Roman playwright who lived during the third to second century BC, wrote plays during the time when Rome was a republic and an oligarchy, rather than a democracy. Slavery was prevalent during this time, and most elite families owned slaves, with the majority of them being foreigners captured during wars. However, the slaves’ status was often not permanent, nor was it passed down to their children.
Plautus adapted The Pot of Gold, along with many of his other plays, from earlier Greek versions, which influenced the portrayal of slavery in his plays, in addition to Roman laws and customs.
Strobilus, a slave owned by Lyoncides, is a typical character in Roman comedies. Rather than openly rebelling against their enslavement, they reluctantly accept it, and they are often portrayed as loyal and cunning, with the hope of being rewarded with freedom. In The Pot of Gold, Strobilus’s motivation to steal the gold is to purchase his freedom.
In contrast, Strabilus is an elderly slave who has been devoted to Euclio for a long time, and he has little hope of ever being freed. His loyalty extends to Euclio’s daughter as well.
Write a critical analysis of The Pot Of Gold.
this play explores the idea that having a lot of money may not bring the happiness and security that people often assume it will. The pot of gold that Euclio discovers becomes the central symbol of this theme. Even though he initially receives the pot of gold as a gift from his household deity, his obsession with it causes him to become paranoid and mistrustful of everyone around him. He is so focused on protecting the newfound wealth that he is unable to appreciate the kindness and generosity of others, like when Megadorus offers to marry his daughter without requiring a dowry.
Euclio’s fear of losing the pot of gold reveals his own greed and ultimately leads to his downfall. He sees the gold as the key to his happiness and security, but in reality, it only brings him stress and misery. As the play progresses, Euclio’s obsession with the gold drives him to accuse others of stealing it and causes him to become increasingly irrational and unstable.
In the end, Euclio realizes that the pot of gold has become more of a curse than a blessing. He finds true happiness only after he gives the gold away to his daughter and new son-in-law as a wedding gift. Through Euclio’s experiences, the play highlights the dangers of greed and the importance of appreciating the good things in life that cannot be bought with money.
How does Plautus’s play The Pot of Gold reflect the role of women in Greek society?
Plautus’ The Pot of Gold sheds light on the vulnerable and powerless position of women in ancient society, while also showcasing their unofficial power and influence. The play primarily revolves around Euclio and his daughter, Phaedria. However, Phaedria remains invisible on stage and is merely a pawn for other characters to manipulate. Euclio doesn’t even acknowledge her pregnancy or plan to spend any money on her.
Megadorus, a wealthy neighbor, decides to marry Phaedria without even knowing much about her, solely because she is poor and powerless. He believes he can control her easily and doesn’t require a dowry. Meanwhile, Phaedria has little say in the matter and is agreeable to marrying Lyconides, the father of her child, but not until the end of the play when the truth about the father’s identity is revealed.
In contrast to Phaedria’s vulnerability, Megadorus’s sister, Eunomia, holds unofficial influence over her brother and insists he gets married. While Megadorus is apathetic towards marriage, he eventually agrees to his sister’s wishes. Eunomia proves to have significant unofficial power over her brother, and when she finds out about her son’s actions, she quickly changes her plans, ultimately leading to Megadorus renouncing his engagement to Phaedria in favor of his nephew.
Lastly, Euclio’s housekeeper, Staphyla, serves as a voice of reason and compassion in the play. She cares for Phaedria and tries to help her, all while managing Euclio’s household unofficially and intelligently. She proves to be more aware of the household’s happenings than Euclio himself.
Overall, The Pot of Gold portrays women as vulnerable and powerless in ancient society, yet they wield significant unofficial power and influence in various situations.
Comment on Plautus’s use of irony and humour in The Pot of Gold.
Plautus’s The Pot of Gold is a biting satire that takes aim at the greed and obsession with wealth of the Roman upper-classes, despite the play being set in Athens. Plautus expertly employs humor and irony to convey his message.
The character of Euclio, the miser who carries his gold around in a pot, provides ample comedic relief while also representing the greed of the upper-classes. Euclio’s ignorance is also a source of humor, as he remains oblivious to his daughter Phaedria’s violation by Lyconides due to his fixation on his wealth. This irony highlights the hypocrisy of the upper-classes who treat their daughters as property while failing to recognize when someone else does the same.
Another example of irony is when Euclio misunderstands preparations for his daughter’s wedding as an attempt to steal his gold. This dramatic irony further emphasizes how the obsession with wealth makes the upper-classes appear ridiculous.
Plautus’s use of humour and irony in The Pot of Gold exposes the flaws of the Roman upper classes and their fixation on wealth, making the play a scathing satire.
Discuss the structure and plot of The Pot of Gold.
Plautus’s The Pot of Gold begins with Lar, Euclio’s household spirit, introducing Euclio as a paranoid man who discovered a pot of gold in his house but now lives in fear of losing it. Euclio is so consumed by his newfound wealth that he is oblivious to the fact that his daughter, Phaedria, is pregnant and that her lover, Lyconides, is responsible. Meanwhile, Megadorus’s sister, Eunomia, convinces him to get married, and he chooses Phaedria as his bride.
As Megadorus prepares for the wedding, Euclio, convinced that everyone is after his gold, hides it in the shrine of Good Faith, but Lyconides’s slave steals it. When Euclio discovers the gold missing, he misunderstands Lyconides’s confession of love for Phaedria as a confession of stealing the gold.
Lyconides discovers that his slave has the gold and offers to free him in exchange for it, with Megadorus’s advice. The play reaches its climax as Lyconides returns the gold, and Euclio finally realizes that his obsession with wealth is causing him pain. He allows Lyconides to marry Phaedria and gives him the gold as a wedding gift.
What does the title of the play The Pot of Gold mean?
Plautus’ play The Pot of Gold revolves around Euclio’s obsession with his newly found pot of gold. After his household deity helps him discover the treasure, Euclio becomes increasingly paranoid about anyone stealing it from him.
As the play progresses, Euclio attributes nefarious motives to nearly everyone, including his long-time servant and the cooks and entertainers hired for his daughter’s wedding. In a fit of desperation, Euclio takes the pot of gold to the temple of Faith to try to hide it, but his lack of faith in anyone or anything, including himself, is evident.
When Lyconides’ servant manages to steal the gold, Euclio accuses Lyconides of theft. However, with the help of Megadorus, Lyconides returns the gold to Euclio. Euclio ultimately realizes that the pot of gold is more trouble than it is worth and gives it to Phaedria and Lyconides as a wedding gift, as his household deity had intended.
Thus, the play’s title, The Pot of Gold, is aptly named, as Euclio’s obsession with the treasure propels the plot forward and ultimately leads him to learn an important lesson.
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