The Eunuch: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Eunuch" is a classical play that revolves around complex relationships and themes of love, deception, and social status. Central to the narrative are the characters Thaïs, Phaedria, Thraso, and Chaerea, each embodying distinct motivations and desires. Thaïs, a courtesan from Rhodes, finds herself caught between her affection for Phaedria and the advances of the braggart soldier Thraso, whom she manipulates to acquire a young slave girl named Pamphila. Phaedria, Thaïs’ true love, grapples with feelings of betrayal as he contemplates leaving Athens due to Thaïs’ interactions with Thraso.
Chaerea, Phaedria's younger brother, becomes infatuated with Pamphila and, disguising himself as a eunuch, ultimately commits an act that complicates the lives of all involved. Thraso, characterized by his arrogance, attempts to reclaim Pamphila through force, only to face societal restrictions that prevent him from doing so, revealing the intricacies of class and citizenship in their world. Supporting characters like Parmeno, the clever servant, and Gnatho, Thraso's cunning parasite, add layers of intrigue and humor, highlighting the interplay of manipulation and loyalty. The play raises important questions about identity, societal norms, and the consequences of personal desires, making it a rich text for analysis and interpretation.
The Eunuch: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Terence
Genre: Play
Locale: Athens
Plot: Comedy
Time: Fourth century b.c.e.
Thaïs (THAY-ihs), a Rhodian courtesan living in Athens. She is wooed by Phaedria, whom she loves, and by Thraso, a braggart captain. Thaïs encourages Thraso's love because she wishes him to make her a present of a young slave girl. This girl, Pamphila, had been reared as Thaïs' sister. In fact, she is an Athenian citizen. Thaïs wants to restore the girl to Chremes, Pamphila's brother. After Thraso gives her Pamphila, Thaïs goes to Thraso's house. She quarrels with him and returns home to find that Pamphila has been ravished by Chaerea, who entered Thaïs' house disguised as a eunuch. Pamphila is restored to Chremes and promised in marriage to Chaerea, who loves her. Thaïs reaffirms her love for Phaedria.
Phaedria (FEED-ree-uh), the son of Laches, who loves Thaïs. Hurt because Thaïs excludes him from her house while admitting Thraso, Phaedria listens to her explanation and agrees to leave Athens for two days until Thraso has given Pamphila to the courtesan. Unable to stay away so long, Phaedria returns to find that his brother Chaerea has disgraced him by attacking Pamphila.
Thraso (THRAY-soh), a rich, pompous, and conceited soldier, a foreigner who formerly had been in the service of an Asiatic king. He is used by both Thaïs and his parasite Gnatho for their own ends. When, after being deserted by Thaïs, he asks that Pamphila be returned to him, his demand is refused. When he takes a gang of thugs to storm Thaïs' house and recover Pamphila, he is thwarted by the revelation that Pamphila is an Athenian citizen and, therefore, cannot be held as a slave.
Chaerea (KEE-reh-uh), Phaedria's younger brother, a sixteen-year-old youth. Seeing Pamphila on the street as she is being taken to Thaïs' house, he falls in love with her. With the aid of Parmeno, he impetuously enters Thaïs' house in the garb of a eunuch and ravishes Pamphila. After Pamphila's identity is revealed, Chaerea receives his father's permission to marry her.
Parmeno (PAHR-meh-noh), Phaedria's outspoken and intelligent servant. Having been sent by Phaedria to deliver to Thaïs a eunuch and an Ethiopian girl, Parmeno meets Chaerea. He sympathizes with Chaerea's infatuation with Pamphila and agrees to introduce him into Thaïs' house disguised as the eunuch.
Gnatho (NA-thoh), Thraso's parasite. Gnatho is a scheming cynic who detests his patron. At the end, with a view to his continuing prosperity, Gnatho asks Thaïs and Phaedria not to have Thraso banished for his effrontery in besieging Thaïs' house. He persuades them to allow Thraso to continue to pay court to Thaïs, because Thraso's money can supply luxuries that Phaedria could not otherwise afford.
Chremes (KRAY-meez), a young Athenian, the brother of Pamphila.
Dorus (DOH-ruhs), an old eunuch. Phaedria had bought Dorus to present to Thaïs. Chaerea enters Thaïs' house in Dorus' clothes.
Laches (LA-keez), an old Athenian, the father of Phaedria and Chaerea. When Laches learns that Pamphila is an Athenian citizen, he approves his son's marriage to her because he is glad to save the family from disgrace.
Antipho (AN-tih-foh), the young man to whom Chaerea relates what he had done in Thaïs' house.
Pamphila (PAM-fihl-uh), a sixteen-year-old girl. The sister of Chremes, Pamphila had been kidnaped while a child and sold into slavery in Rhodes. She had been reared there as Thaïs' sister.
Sophrona (so-froh-nuh), an old nurse in Thaïs' household.
Pythias (PIH-thee-uhs) and Dorias (DOH-ree-uhs), Thaïs' female attendants.
Sanga (SAN-guh), Thraso's cook.
Donax (DOH-naks), Simalio (sih-MA-lee-oh), and Syriscus (sih-RIHS-kus), servants of Thraso. Thraso takes them with him to storm Thaïs' house.