# Thais — Plays character guide

> Thais in Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Thais, Young Man Thais, Lovers Cruel Thais

**First appearance:** 0079-paphnutius

## Snapshot

The most notorious courtesan in the city, whose beauty ruins men by the dozen — until a stranger's voice makes her burn her gold and walk away from everything.

## Who they are

Thais lives at the center of a whirl of lovers, gifts, and brawls, her house a byword for both pleasure and destruction. When Paphnutius reaches her, she does not resist; she renounces her lovers publicly, calls her possessions ashes, and asks him to be her lantern through the dark. She matters because her conversion is the play's whole arc — a spectacular fall reversed into a spectacular penance, and a test of whether the reader believes such a change is possible.

## In the story

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

A harlot who undergoes penance and achieves sainthood, depicted with spiritual depth and irony.

### [Plays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/plays)

A harlot who is converted and does penance in the play 'Paphnutius.'

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

The courtesan who is the object of Paphnutius's mission.

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

The harlot who repents, burns her possessions, and dies after three years of penance in a narrow cell.

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

The harlot whose beauty and wickedness cause many men to ruin, and whom Paphnutius seeks to save.

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

Thais is the object of Paphnutius's search, described by the young men as a beautiful and avaricious woman who 'sets all hearts on fire.'

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

A wealthy courtesan and secret Christian who experiences a profound conversion, deciding to burn her possessions and seek reconciliation with God.

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

Thais dramatically burns the gifts from her lovers and renounces her past, declaring she is sane for the first time.

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

Declares her readiness to obey, having renounced her lovers and possessions, and seeks Paphnutius's guidance.

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

Expresses weariness and submits to Paphnutius's plan for her penance at the monastery.

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

Brought to the abbey, expresses fear and reluctance about the narrow cell, but accepts her penance.

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

Mentioned as having abandoned her evil life and now weeping over her sins in a narrow cell.

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

Thais is the subject of Paphnutius's concern; her penance of three years is noted.

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

The harlot converted by Paphnutius, now doing penance in a narrow cell.

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

Thais is the subject of Paul's vision, revealed as the recipient of heavenly glory.

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

Has spent years in penitence in a narrow cell, expressing humility and longing for God's mercy.

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

Thais is dying and asks Paphnutius to stay with her, expressing fear and a plea for divine mercy.

### [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 conversion story in Paphnutius was made new and compelling in the production, though some found the treatment unpalatable.

## Links

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