Social Themes of Roman Comedy

FAIN: FT-13891-78

David Konstan
Brown University (Providence, RI 02912-9100)

To complete the first draft of a book on the social themes of Roman comedy. Work will include the writing of an introduction in which certain theoretical issues involved in relating literature to social institutions and ideology and of a concluding chapter in which all the plays of Plautus and Terence will be reviewed and classified according to their social themes. The conflicting claims of private passion (the erotic impulses of young men) and social responsibility (intermarriage with members of families having suitable citizen status) will be the focus of the study.