Phormio: Analysis of Major Characters
"Phormio" is a comedic play centered around themes of love, deception, and family dynamics in ancient Athens. The narrative primarily follows Phormio, a cunning young lawyer who takes it upon himself to resolve the romantic entanglements of two cousins, Antipho and Phaedria. Both young men find themselves in complicated situations involving their fathers, who are abroad and unaware of the developments in their sons' lives. Phormio orchestrates a marriage for Antipho with Phanium, a woman of noble lineage but without a dowry, while also maneuvering to satisfy his own romantic interests.
The characters are rich and diverse, including the pompous Demipho, who wishes to annul his son’s marriage, and Chremes, who has a hidden past with a secret marriage. Antipho faces the challenge of revealing the truth of his marriage when the fathers return, while Phaedria is in love with a slave named Pamphilia. The play culminates in revelations that lead to unexpected happiness for the young couples.
Supporting characters like Nausistrata, Chremes’ wife, and Geta, a clever servant, add depth to the plot, showcasing various societal roles and personal motivations. Overall, "Phormio" presents a humorous yet insightful look at the complexities of relationships and societal expectations in a classical context.
Phormio: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Terence
Genre: Play
Locale: Athens
Plot: Comedy
Time: Second century b.c.e.
Phormio (FOHR-mee-oh), a crafty and cynical young Athenian lawyer, a self-styled parasite who resolves to straighten out the romantic difficulties of two young cousins, Antipho and Phaedria, whose fathers are abroad. With Phormio's connivance, Antipho marries Phanium, a penniless young woman of good family. When the fathers, Demipho and Chremes, return, they bribe Phormio to marry Phanium and thus free Antipho from his imprudent union. Phormio betrays the uncles and gives part of the money to Phaedria to buy Pamphilia, a slave with whom he has fallen in love. The uncles discover that Antipho's wife is actually Chremes'daughter by a secret marriage to a woman of Lemnos. They now approve the match and demand their money back from Phormio. When they insist, Phormio tells Chremes' wife Nausistrata of the earlier marriage. She upbraids Chremes, tells Phormio to keep the money, and invites him to supper. Antipho and Phaedria are left happy with the women they love.
Geta (GEE-tuh), Demipho's shrewd servant, Phormio's accomplice in helping the young men and defrauding their fathers.
Demipho (DEH-mif-foh), Antipho's father and Chremes' brother. Pompous, class-conscious, and somewhat miserly, old Demipho wishes to revoke his son's marriage because it offers no dowry.
Chremes (KRAY-meez), Phaedria's father. Fifteen years earlier, Chremes had, while drunk and under the name of Stilpho, married a woman in Lemnos and had a daughter by her. Returning to Lemnos in search of his daughter, he learns that she has gone to Athens looking for him. He fears his Athenian wife will discover the earlier marriage.
Antipho (AN-ti-foh), Demipho's son. When his father returns, Antipho is afraid to face him until Phanium's true identity has been revealed.
Phaedria (FEE-dree-uh), Chremes' son, in love with Pamphilia, a young slave. He gets the money to purchase her from Phormio. Antipho and Phaedria are deeply devoted friends.
Nausistrata (noh-SIHS-trah-tuh), Chremes' good-hearted but nagging wife. Happy to have something to hold over her husband, she forgives Chremes for his indiscreet marriage.
Sophrona (so-FROH-nuh), Phanium's nurse. She reveals to Chremes that his Lemnian wife has died of grief and that Antipho's wife is really his daughter.
Dorio (DOH-ree-oh), a bawd who owns the young musician whom Phaedria loves. He threatens to sell her to a soldier unless Phaedria can buy her at once.
Pamphilia (pam-FIH-lee-uh), the slave girl Phaedria loves and purchases.
Phanium (FA-nee-uhm), Chremes' daughter and Antipho's wife.
Higio (HIH-gee-oh), Cratinus (kra-TI-nuhs), and Crito (KRI-toh), Demipho's advocates.
Davus (DAH-vuhs), a friend of Geta.
Mida (MI-duh), Phanium's servant, a young boy.