Abstract
The thesis is an analytical study to a lot of problems and
issues in both the Greek and Roman societies, end especially the
position of the Athenian Woman in the fourth century BC in ve
of the comedies of Menander, and her position in the Roman
society in the third and second centuries B.C, as well, in view of
the comedies of Terence and Plautus, The study also raises one of
the important issues in the study of the Latin literature, which is
originality, and to what extent it is an imitation to the Greek
literature, It also shows the amount of innovation in the treatment
of the female roles in the comedies of Terence in relation to those
of Men ander's and Plaustus, especially that most of Terences
comedies plots were extracted from the New Greek comedy,
| Moreover, the study shows how Terence abided by his
Greek source Menander, more than what Plaustus did. However, he
was not restricted by his Greek source on the contrary, he was
able to add his own innovations in depicting his female characters.
And by this, Terence tried to reach the same level and style of
Menander so that the Romans won't lose having a comedian and
elegant poet who writes to the intellectuals, and at the same time
shows sympathy to the marginalized people in his patriarchal
society. His aim was always to upgrade and enlighten his society
to change its notions about the Roman woman, unlike Plautus who
always mocks her.
