# Drusiana — Plays character guide

> Drusiana in Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Drusiana, Drusiana Venerable father John

**First appearance:** 0053-callimachus

## Who they are

A devout woman whose prayer for death, rather than becoming another's ruin, sets the Apostle John on a course toward resurrection and mercy.

## Relationships

### [Paphnutius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/characters/paphnutius)

_friendship_

Drusiana and Paphnutius are Christian associates, with Paphnutius supporting her virtue.

## In the story

### [The Plays of Roswitha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/the-plays-of-roswitha)

A woman who dies of grief after Callimachus's confession, later resurrected.

### [Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/characters)

Listed as a main character in the chapter.

### [Callimachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/callimachus)

Rejects Callimachus's advances, prays for death, dies of grief, is resurrected by John.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-ii)

The object of Callimachus's love; a devout Christian and wife of Andronicus.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-iii)

Rejects Callimachus's advances, expressing disgust and affirming her renunciation of lawful marital relations.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-iv)

Dies of grief and fear after Callimachus confesses his love, praying to Christ to take her rather than become a snare to another soul.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-v)

Drusiana has died, having prayed for death; her soul is said to be in eternal joy.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-vi)

Deceased; her body is the object of Callimachus's obsession.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-vii)

Her body lies preserved, the object of Callimachus's necrophilic desire.

### [Scene VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-viii)

The deceased woman whose resurrection is promised by God.

### [Scene IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-ix)

Resurrected by John, she intercedes for Fortunatus's resurrection and glorifies the Trinity.

### [A Note on the Acting of the Plays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/a-note-on-the-acting-of-the-plays)

Her prayer to die rather than yield to Callimachus was mocked in the modern production, illustrating the failure to treat the play seriously.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/characters/drusiana
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/characters