Blandiri officium meretricium est: prostitutes’ seduction strategies in Plautine comedy

Abstract

As usually occurs within the appreciation of the characters of Titus Macius Plautus’s (c. 204-184 b.C.) comedies, the prostitutes (meretrices) tend to be reduced to caricatural stereotypes. However, this simplified interpretation contrasts in a certain way with the main characteristics normally attributed to this exuberant female stock character-type in the fabula palliata: the blanditia. This quality involves the subtle techniques of seduction – revealed by means of their speech. Considering selected passages of Bacchides, Casina and Menaechmus, we regard two important aspects in the representation of the prostitutes’ blanditia. On one hand, the use of animal images to qualify the prostitutes and also their discourses. On the other hand, a game involving hiding and revealing that is associated with the meretrices’ speeches and with what surrounds them. The goal of this investigation is to discuss how the representation of the capacity to persuade and to subvert positions of this stock character-type is affected by these aspects.