Casina v. The Braggart Soldier

While both the plays are entertaining and amusing, I preferred the play "Casina." "The Braggart Soldier" is filled with descriptive language. In the beginning of the play it provides a good hook for the reader and entrance for "destiny's dashing, dauntless, debonair, darling," that is Pyrgopolynices. Several pages later though, I found the writing slightly exhausting. The overly rich details made me wish the scenes would find their end quickly. The rhyming throughout the play was helpful. It gave the play a flow and rhythm that aided in the reading. The "architect" Palaestrio also came across asa scheming, deceitful man. He played a puppet master throughout the play to help Philocomasium and through that accomplish his wish of being away from his current master and to be free. Whereas in "Casina" the wife, Cleostrata, spends the play formulating a plan on how to prevent her husband, Lysidamus, from being unfaithful. "Casina" is full of quick witty lines, often at Lysidamus' expense. Chalinus makes several while he's eavesdropping on Lysidamus and Olympio. The tone of the play is joking and the characters keep the reader amused. The play also features a strong-willed female protagonist (trying to prevent Lysidamus' schemes) whereas in "The Braggart Soldier" the female characters are secondary characters.