ADULESCENSASVIRGO A NOTE ON TERENCE'S EUNUCH 908

  • Z. M. Packman University of Natal

Abstract

Terence's Eunuchus has been the object of intensive study in a number of recent publications, among them: Stavros A Frangoulidis, "Performance and improvisation in Terence's Eunuchus" (1994); Louise Pearson Smith, "Audience response to rape: Chaerea in Terence's Eunuchus" (1994); Katerina Philippides, "Terence's Eunuchus: Elements of the marriage ritual in the rape scene" (1995); and Cynthia S Dessen, "The figure of the eunuch in Terence's Eunuchus" (1995). The purpose of this note is to call attention to the extraordinary case of the application of a female character designation, virgo, to a male character, an adulescens, in this drama, and to the context in which this application occurs; and to suggest that this linguistic event is relevant to arguments advanced in several of these recent publications.
Published
2014-03-30
Section
Articles