 In fact, the play begins with Philocrates and Tyndarus heavily and painfully shackled, and the harshness of their treatment counterbalances the humorous by-play that Plautus injects into the proceedings to keep his audience amused.The protagonist Hegio is an interesting, multi-faceted character, more deeply drawn than most of Plautus' other figures, who tend to be comic stereotypes.He is shown as capable of cruelty and quite impulsive, but also as generous and ultimately sympathetic.