Menaechmi

Roles

• Menaechmus - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Male

About this piece

Menaechmus scolds his wife

Summary

The story is about two identical twins born to a mechant from Syracuse. The two twins are Menaechmus and Sosicles. When the twins were 7 years old the merchant takes Menaechmus on a trip to Epidamus. There the kid gets lost and carried off by a local rich businessman who raises him as his own child. Years later Sosicles, who is now named Menaechmus after his lost brother, travels in hope to return his brother home. One of his stops is Epidamus where his brother lives. After a series of funny mistaken identity cases, the two brothers are reunited. This monologue is in the second scene of the play. The character is Menaechmus of Epidamus, the lost twin, who is now grown up, married, and has inherited his father's fortune. In this monologue Menaechmus berates his wife for being too shrew and controlling. He storms out of the house promising that she will now have a real reason to be jealous. He tells the audience that he has stolen her mantle and plans to give it to his mistress.

Tone

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