What is the role of the slaves?

In
Roman comedies, there are usually several
characters who are slaves. Part of the plot often
hinges on one or more of
their efforts to leave the slave status; this plot feature may include
an
enslaved womans desire to marry a free man. One of the slave characters is usually a
close
personal servant to the , who is usually an elite young man. That
slaves role is essential to
the plots resolution. He helps his master achieve
his goals, which may include becoming wealthy
or winning the girl of his
dreams, often demanding that the young man win his fathers approval.
This
slave is usually much smarter than the master, especially in terms of devising
complicated
plans and manipulating others to get his way. In this regard, the
crafty slave serves as a
critique of Roman social order by emphasizing the
unfairness of a birth-based
hierarchy.

In
, the plot revolves around the efforts of
the slave
Strobilus to obtain his own freedom (at which he does not...