The Roman Actor
by Philip Massinger
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At a glance:
- Author: Philip Massinger
- First Published: 1629
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: First century
- Setting: Rome
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: Acting or actors, Theater, Circuses or carnivals, Greek or Roman times, Treason, Rome, First century, Heads of state, Stoics
- Locales: Europe, Italy, Rome, ancient
Characters Discussed
Domitian
Domitian (duh-MIHSH-ee-ehn), the emperor of Rome. Cruel and self-indulgent, and convinced of his own godhood, he has no fear of the laws of the gods or men. Infatuated with Domitia, he forces her husband to divorce her, then has him killed. He is shaken when two stoic senators scorn his tortures and die calmly. In his own mind, he performs a kindness by killing the actor, Paris, while taking part with him in a play, rather than having him executed. Eventually, he gathers the nerve to have his faithless wife...
(The entire page is 678 words.)
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