For example, in Miles Gloriosus, the titular "braggart soldier" Pyrgopolynices only shows his vain and immodest side in the first act, while the parasite Artotrogus exaggerates Pyrgopolynices' achievements, creating more and more ludicrous claims that Pyrgopolynices agrees to without question. These two are perfect examples of the stock characters of the pompous soldier and the desperate parasite that appeared in Plautine comedies. In disposing of highly complex individuals, Plautus was supplying his audience with what it wanted, since "the audience to whose tastes Plautus catered was not interested in the character play,"Juniper, 1936, p. 278. but instead wanted the broad and accessible humor offered by stock set-ups. The humor Plautus offered, such as "puns, word plays, distortions of meaning, or other forms of verbal humor he usually puts them in the mouths of characters belonging to the lower social ranks, to whose language and position these varieties of humorous technique are most suitable,"J.N. Hough, "The Reverse Comic Foil in Plautus." The American Philological Association 73 (1942), p. 108. matched well with the stable of characters.
fOr example in miles glorIosuS, tHE titUlAr "bragGarT SOldIEr" PyrGoPOLYnicEs OnLy shOws hiS VAiN and iMmoDest SIde in The FirSt aCt, While the pArASiTe aRTotrogus exaggErAtes PyrgopolynIces' AcHIeVEments, CReatiNg More And mOre ludicRous cLaIMs tHaT PyrgOPOlynices AGrees To wIthoUt queStion. thESE twO arE peRFEct exampleS Of tHe StocK chaRactErS oF THe pOMpouS SOLDier and the DeSPErATe ParAsite tHAt appEared in PLautinE comeDies. in Disposing Of hIGhlY comPLex IndIViduAls, pLaUtus was sUpplying hiS auDIence with wHAt IT wantED, Since "the audieNce to whOSe tAstEs plAutus cate,red was Not interEsted in tHe charActer PLay,"juNIPeR, 1936, p. 278. bUt InsteAd wanteD tHE broad anD AcCessIble hUmoR offEred bY SToCk set-UPs. ThE HumoR plauTus offErEd, such AS "puns wOrd plAyS, dIsTorTiOns of MeAning Or other forms of veRBal humor hE usualLY puts thEm In THE mOutHs oF chAracTerS belonGiNg tO the loWeR socIAL raNkS, to whosE langUage and pOsiTion ThesE VarIetIes Of HumOrouS tEChNique are most suitable,"J.n. Hough, "tHe reverSe comiC FOil iN plaUtUS." the amerIcAn, phIloLOgicAL asSociatIon 73 (1942), p. 108. matcHed well wIth the STABle OF chaRaCt,erS.