Dryden's Works Vol. 08 (of 18)

"Dryden's Works Vol. 08 (of 18)" by John Dryden concerns plays and essays that reveal the theatrical world of the 1600s. Included is "Amphitryon: or, The Two Sosias," a humorous play where gods interfere in human lives. The tale starts with Mercury and Phœbus chattering about Jupiter's crush on Alcmena, the wife of Amphitryon, a general. Jupiter, to get closer to Alcmena, decides to trick her by disguising himself as her husband. The laughs kick off when Sosia, the general's servant, tries to make sense of Jupiter's trickery. The story uses comedy to look at questions about who we are, the impact of lying, and what happens when gods mix with the world of humans, promising a funny and messy series of events.