WhileChremesswifeSostrataispregnant,Chremestellsherthatifthechildshouldbeagirlsheisto

destroyit.Sostrataagrees,butwhenthebabyturnsouttobeadaughterthepoorwomandoesnothave
thehearttocarryoutherhusbandscommandbyherself.Instead,shegivesthechildtoapoorCorinthian
womanthenlivinginAthens,whoistoleavethechildoutsidetodie.Outofsuperstition,shealsogives
thewomanaringforherfingertoaccompanythechildwhenitisleftexposed.
TheoldCorinthianwomanfailstocarryoutherinstructions.NamingthechildAntiphila,sherearsthe
girlasherown.Antiphilagrowsup,wellmanneredandcomely,andsheisbelievedbyeveryonetobethe
oldwomansowndaughter.
Clinia,thesonofMenedemus,seesAntiphilaandfallsdesperatelyinlovewithher.Fearingthe
disapprovalofhisstrictfather,Cliniabeginslivingwithherinsecretasthoughsheishiswife.
Menedemusatlastdiscoverstheaffair,andbyconstantlychidinghissonandaccusinghimofunmanly
indolence,hefinallycausestheyoungmantogototheEastandserveinthewarsunderthePersianking.
ShortlyafterClinialeavesAthens,Menedemuscomestorealizethathewasunjustandcruelinhis
severity.TopunishhimselfhesellsallhispossessionsinAthens,purchasesafarminthecountry,and
beginsworkingbothhimselfandhisservantsalmostbeyondendurance.Threemonthsafterhisdeparture,
Cliniareturns,nolongerabletotoleratehisseparationfromAntiphila.Unawareofhisfatherschangeof
heart,hekeepshisreturnsecretfromMenedemusandisentertainedbyClitipho,aboyhoodfriendand
thesonofChremes.AssoonasCliniaarrives,Clitiphosendshistwoslaves,DromoandSyrus,into
AthenstobringAntiphilatoherlover.OnthesamedayChremeslearnsfromMenedemushowmuchhe
wantshissontoreturnandhowgenerousheisdeterminedtobetotheyoungmanwhentheopportunity
doesfinallypresentitself.InfearofmakingCliniaaudaciousinhisdemandsonMenedemus,however,
Chremesrefrainsfromtellingtheyoungmanabouthisfatherschangeoffeeling.
ThateveningSyrusreturns,bringingbothAntiphilaandahighpricedcourtesan,Bacchis.Clitipho,
unknowntohisfather,previouslywasdeeplyinfatuatedwithBacchis,andthecunningandboldSyrus
decidesthattheyouthsdesiretoseehismistresscanbesatisfiedifBacchisisintroducedtoChremesas
CliniasmistressandAntiphilaistopretendtobeamemberofthecourtesansretinue.
Earlythenextday,ChremesgoestoMenedemusandtellshimofCliniasarrival.Theoldman,overjoyed
atthenews,wantsimmediatelytogivehissonfullcontroloverallhispossessions.Chremes,however,
counselsagainstsuchamoveonthesamegroundsthatherefrainedfromtellingCliniaofhisfathers
changeofheart.Moreover,ChremesbelievesBacchistobeCliniasmistress,andheknowsthather
extravagantmodeoflivingwillquicklydrainanyadmirerofallhispossessions.Thefestivitiesofthe
nightbeforealonecostChremesdearly.WhathedoesadviseisthatMenedemusshouldreceiveClinia
warmly,pretendtobeignorantofhisaffairwithBacchis,andallowhimselftobetrickedoutofrelatively
smallsumsfromtimetotime.Thisprocedure,Chremesthinks,willkeepCliniaathomeandforestallthe
ruinofMenedemus.
Meanwhile,SyrusishatchingaplottotrickChremesoutofthetenminaethatBacchisdemandsasthe
priceofhersojournwithClitipho.TheservantisgratifiedandamusedwhenChremesgiveshimapparent
sanctionforhisdeceptionbyaskingSyrustocontriveawaytodeceiveMenedemusintobelievingthat
BacchisisnotCliniasmistress.Syrus,agreeing,cunninglyproceedswithhisownplotbytelling
ChremesthatAntiphilasmotherborrowedtenminaefromBacchis,leavingAntiphilaasapledgeforthe
money.Theoldwomanpresumablydies,andAntiphilaneedsthemoneytopurchaseherfreedom.
Atthatmoment,however,Sostrata,Chremeswife,discoversbymeansoftheringthatAntiphilaisher
abandoneddaughter.WhenthisfactisrevealedtoChremes,hisfirstreactionistochidehiswife;buthe
isreallypleasedtorecoverhisdaughternowthathisconditionisimprovedfinancially.
AtlastSyrushitsuponaplanfordeceivingbothfathersbytellingthemthetruth.Heproposesthat
BacchisandherretinuemovetoMenedemusshouseonthepretextthatsheisClitiphosmistressand
thatheraffairwithClitiphomustbeconcealedfromChremes.Inaddition,Antiphilaistobepassedoffas
Cliniasmistress,andCliniaistoaskhisfatherfortenminaetoprovideforthewedding.Chremesrefuses

toallowanothertoransomhisdaughterforhim,however,andgivesClitiphothetenminae.Therestof
theplotprovesacceptableaswell,andBacchisandherservantsaremovedtoMenedemusshouse.
MenedemusassumesthatwhatheistoldregardingBacchisandClitiphoisdesignedtodeceivehim,but
whenheseesthetwoenteringabedchambertogetherwithoutawordofprotestfromtheobserving
Clinia,hegrowstroubledandtellsChremeswhathesaw.HealsopointsoutthatCliniamadenoeffortto
getmoneyoutofhisfatherandseemedhighlypleasedwhenMenedemusagreedtohismarriagewith
Antiphila.Thus,thewholetruthcomesout.Chremes,infuriatedatfirst,threatenstosettlethewholeof
hispropertyonAntiphila.ThesuddenprospectofbeingleftpennilessleadsClitiphotoreflectseriously
onhismodeoflife,andhepromisestoabandonallcourtesansandmarryavirtuouswoman.Underthe
gentlepersuasionofMenedemusandSostrata,ChremesfinallyagreestoletAntiphilamarryClinia,and
intheendhepromisestoforgiveevenSyrus.

Antiphila
Antiphila(anTIHfehluh),thedaughterofChremesandSostrata.Given,atbirth,toaCorinthian
woman,shegrowsupunknowntoherparents.InlovewithClinia,sheliveswithhimashiswife.She
becomesinvolvedinaplotdesignedtoassistClitiphoinhisaffairwiththeprostituteBacchis,butheis
finallypersuadedtorenouncehismistress.WhenAntiphilasidentitybecomesknown,shereceives
permissiontomarryClinia.
Clinia
Clinia(KLIHneeuh),thesonofMenedemus.InlovewithAntiphilabutfearingthedisapprovalofhis
strictfather,heliveswithherasherhusband.Whenhisfatherdiscoverstheaffair,hisharshnessdrives
Cliniatothewars,fromwhichhereturnsinsecretbecauseofhislongingforAntiphila.Involvedinaplot
toaidhisfriend,Clitipho,inhisinfatuationforBacchis,helearnsofhisfathersregretoverhisformer
severityandreceivesMenedemuspermissiontomarryAntiphila.
Menedemus
Menedemus(mehnuhDEEmuhs),Cliniasfather.Becauseofhisunjustseverity,hedriveshissonto
thewars.Finally,seeingtheerrorofhisway,herepentsofhisharshnessandgrantspermissionforClinia
tomarryAntiphila.
Clitipho
Clitipho(KLItihfoh),thesonofChremesandSostrata.InlovewiththecourtesanBacchis,hebecomes
apartytoaplottodeceivehisfatheraboutthetruestateofaffairs.Finally,whenheisfoundoutand
threatenedwithdisinheritance,hedecidestomendhiswaysandmarryavirtuouswoman.
Chremes
Chremes(KRAYmeez),anoldAthenian,thefatherofAntiphilaandClitipho.
Sostrata
Sostrata(SOHstrahtuh),hiswife,themotherofAntiphilaandClitipho.
Bacchis
Bacchis(BAkihs),acourtesanlovedbyClitipho.

Syrus
Syrus(SIHruhs)and
Dromo
Dromo(DROHmoh),Clitiphosservants.

AlthoughTheSelfTormentor,basedonanearlierplaybyMenander,takesitsprimaryforcefromits
intricateplot,itis,likeseveralofTerencescomedies,insomesenseaproblemplay.Theproblemis
whetherundeviatingstrictnessoraffectionatetoleranceisthebestmodeofrearingchildren.Menedemus
beginsbyfindingtheapparentexcessesofhissonintolerable.Sincehisuncompromisingreactionresults
inthelossofhisson,hisisclearlynotthewayTerencewouldrecommend.Neither,however,istheold
mansswingtotheoppositeextremeafterhissonleaveshome.Theimplicitmoralisthataflexible
moderationbetweenstrictnessandtoleranceisbestinrearingason.
IntheprologuetoTheSelfTormentor,Terenceexplainsthatheturnedthesingleplotofhissource,aplay
bytheGreekdramatistMenander,intoadoubleone.TheSelfTormentoriscertainlycomplicated.
Admittedly,thecomiceffectdependsonconfusingtheaudiencealmostasmuchasthecharacters,but
thereshouldbeanunderlyingsensethattheplaywrightremainsincontrol.Thismaynotbethecasewith
TheSelfTormentor,whichisdifficulttofollow.
Theplayalsohasstructuralweaknesses.Forexample,inmostRomancomedies,theplansformulatedby
thecleverslavedominatetheaction,buthere,Syrussschemesarenotreallyproductive.Terenceseems
toshiftdirectioninthelastpartoftheplay,whenhedependsuponSostrata,notSyrus,tobringabouta
restorationoforder.If,asseemsclear,theplaywaspopularwithRomanaudiences,thereasonmustbeits
interestingcharacters,recognizableconflicts,anduniversalthemes.
Terencesdoubleplotoperatesthroughtheskillfulpairingofcharacters.Therearetwofathers,
Menedemus,thetitlecharacter,whobelievesthathehasfailedasaparent,andChremes,whohas
completefaithinhisownwisdom.Chremesmust,inthetraditionofcomedy,bebroughttoself
knowledge,andMenedemus,whoalreadyrecognizeshiserror,mustbereunitedwithhisson.
Thetwopairsofloversarealsocontrasted.CliniaandAntiphilaarebothvirtuous,idealistic,andcapable
ofdevotion.Onlyinbirthandwealtharetheyunequal.Thatproblem,inacomedy,iseasilysolved.
Usingastockplotdevice,Terencearrangestohavetheyoungwomanofgoodcharacterbutinferior
stationberecognizedasthechildofrespectableparents.Theonlydifferencehereisthatthisconventional
recognitionoccursinthemiddleoftheactionratherthanattheend.
UnlikeCliniaandAntiphila,ClitiphoandBacchishavenointentionofmarryingeachother.AsBacchis
admitstoAntiphila,sheisessentiallyabusinesswoman,whousesherbeautyandhercharminorderto
attainfinancialsecurity.Clitiphowillremainherloveronlyaslongashecanpay.Besottedasheis,
Clitiphounderstandsthetemporarynatureoftheirrelationship.Attheendoftheplay,hedoesnotobject
tobeingmarriedofftoanappropriatewoman,aslongassheissomeonehelikes.
Althougheachfatherquarrelswithhisson,itisironichowmuchthesonsresembletheirfathers.
MenedemusandCliniaarebothmenofprinciple.Clinialeaveshomebecausehewillnotabandonthe
womanheloves,andMenedemuspunisheshimselfbecauseheknowsthatheviolatedhisownstandards
ofrightandwrong.Similarly,ClitiphoandChremesarebothlessthanhonest.Clitiphodeceiveshis
father,andChremesmisleadshisfriendandneighbor.Bothfatherandsonarealsoimpressedwiththeir
owncleverness.Neitherofthemrealizesthatonewhoiswillingtolietoothersmayhimselfbedeceived.
NeitherChremesnorClitiphoisanevilperson.Throughouttheplay,Chremesbelievesthatheisacting
inthebestinterestsofMenedemus,andthoughheisanxioustokeephismistressnearby,Clitiphoisalso
motivatedbyhisdesiretohelphisfriendClinia.

Thoughtheyoungmenareverydifferentinsomeways,theyarealikeinoneimportantquality.Bothof
themlovetheirfathersandwilldoalmostanythingtohealabreachwiththem.OnereasonforClinias
returnissurelyhisdesiretomakeupmatterswithhisfather.AsforClitipho,whenheisdisinherited,he
mayregretbeingdeprivedofmoneyandproperty,butheisdevastatedbythehorriblesuspicionthatif
Chremescouldsoeasilyrejecthim,itmaybethatheisnothisfather.Thepainoflosingamistressis
nothing,herealizes,whencomparedtotheanguishhewouldsufferifhelosesChremesasafather.
MostanalysesofTheSelfTormentoremphasizethethemeoffathersonrelationships.However,unlike
mostotherRomancomedies,thisplayhasastrongbutnotshrewishfemalecharacter,whose
relationshipswithherhusbandandheroffspringareofcrucialimportance.Whilesheremainsoffstage
duringthefirsthalfofTheSelfTormentor,undoubtedlyquitebusyentertainingthethreeguestswhoare
foisteduponher,whenSostratafinallyenters,shetakeschargeoftheplay.Sheknowshowtomanipulate
Chremes.First,withabjectapologies,sheadmitsherdisobedience.Whenhergirlchildwasborn,she
says,shefailedtokillher,asChremesordered,andnowtheirdaughterreappearsinthepersonof
Antiphila.ThenSostratastandssubmissivewhileChremesfirstscoldsher,thenexcusesher,sinceasa
womanshecannothelpbeingignorantandexcessivelyemotional.Then,asSostrataexpects,Chremes
changeshismind.Itwouldbenice,hethinks,tohaveadaughter.Sostratagetsherway.Sostrataisagain
apivotalfigureinthefinalsceneoftheplay,firstpleadingwithChremestotakebacktheirson,then
speakingforClitipho,whoseemstohavesomefoolishnotionofarguingwithhisfather.Onhersons
behalf,Sostrataagreestoamarriage;onherhusbandsbehalf,sheapprovesofthewomanhelikes.
Inotherways,then,TheSelfTormentormorethanmakesupforitsflaws.Withinthecontextofthe
alwaysdifficultfathersonrelationships,Terencefindsawaytowarnagainstprideandhardheadedness,
rashnessanddebauchery.Hisaudiencesmayevenhaveleftthetheaterwithsomeincreasedrespectfor
matronssuchasSostrata.