Coincidence in Menander’s Dyskolos

Situation comedies thrive on spatial and temporal coincidences. In Menander’s Dyskolos, the audience is repeatedly alerted to coincidences of place and time. Key words that express this coordination are καιρός and τυγχάνω and their cognates. Both have spatial and temporal dimensions and self-consciously highlight the machinations of the plot. By drawing attention to spatial and temporal coincidence as well as failures to coincide due to Knemon’s misanthropy, Menander puts the audience in a position to appreciate the irony of his characters’ words and to enjoy the timely misfortunes that eventually overcome Knemon’s evasiveness.