Auricula Meretricula

Auricula Meretricula

The heroine of the story, her name literally means "little gold prostitute", i.e. she is a young blonde prostitute. Ballio is her pimp.

Ballio Leno

The antagonist. His last name means "pimp". He owns Auricula.

Marcus Adulescens

His last name means "young man". He is a poor poet and Auricula's lover.

Pseudolus Servus

Marcus's slave. His name implies that he is false and untrustworthy.

Dolia Serva

A female slave and Pseudolus's girlfriend.

Laurina Lena

A female pimp; Lena is the feminine form of Leno.

Pugnax Miles

A soldier. His name implies that he has fighting prowess.

Edax Parasitus

His last name means "parasite"; he is a leech, a mooch.

Silex Senex

Marcus's father. His last name means "old man".

Malacus Senex

A rich old man. His last name also means "old man".

Story

Auricula Meretricula tells the story of a young prostitute named Auricula. In the opening scene, her greedy pimp, Ballio, demands money from her, but she has none. Ballio is shocked when Auricula tells him that she is in love with a poor poet named Marcus. In scene II, Auricula tells Marcus of her situation. Scene III opens with Ballio rudely interrupting the lovers. He informs Auricula that he has sold her "services" to a soldier, at which point Pseudolus hurls insults at him. Ballio takes the insults as compliments and then promises to kill Marcus if he ever sees the lovers together again. In Scene IV, Pseudolus, trying to help his master, turns to Dolia, his girlfriend, for help. Afterwards, in scene V, the play follows Laurina and Auricula as Laurina explains to Auricula her philosophy that true love is not valuable. Pugnax then arrives to claim Auricula in scene VI. Edax accompanies him, and has a conversation with Marcus. In scene VII, Pugnax, trying to find Auricula, finds Dolia instead. Dolia then fools Pugnax into loving her, thereby saving Auricula's and Marcus's relationship, or so it seems. Silex, Marcus's father, arrives in scene VIII and tells Marcus of his approaching marriage (Roman marriage was frequently arranged); Marcus protests, saying that he is in love, but his father refuses. The scene ends with Marcus saying that he must hang himself, but that first he must buy rope. In scene IX, Malacus Senex visits the brothel of Ballio, where he discovers Auricula. He is initially interested in purchasing her, but after seeing a ring on her hand, Malacus realizes that Auricula is actually his daughter, whom he lost 10 years prior in a storm. The final scene, scene X, shows an inebriated Malacus comforting Ballio on his financial loss.

Historical influence

Auricula Meretricula was written as a simple Plautian play. It intentionally has many similarities to the works of Plautus. The playwrights make obvious use of Plautus' stock character, such as the clever slave (Dolia) and the old men (there are two old men character-types in Plautus' works).