Plays · Chapter
Scene VIII explained
Soldiers complain about their futile efforts to strip the holy women, noting that their chief Dulcitius has fallen into a deep sleep from which he cannot be roused.
What happens
Soldiers complain about their futile efforts to strip the holy women, noting that their chief Dulcitius has fallen into a deep sleep from which he cannot be roused. They decide to report the situation to the Emperor.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Intervention and Miracles
Dulcitius's inexplicable sleep is presented as a divine intervention protecting the holy women from violation.
Martyrdom and Suffering
The soldiers' failed attempt to strip the women highlights the physical suffering and humiliation intended for the martyrs.
Characters to notice
- Dulcitius
The governor who ordered the stripping of the holy women but has fallen into an unrousable sleep.
- Diocletian
The Emperor to whom the soldiers plan to report the events.
Key passages
“Here we are sweating like pigs and what’s the use? Their clothes cling to their bodies like their own skin.”
The soldiers complain that their labor is futile, as the women's garments seem inseparable from their bodies.
The soldiers express frustration at their inability to strip the holy women.
“What’s more, our chief, who ordered us to strip them, sits there snoring, and there’s no way of waking him.”
Dulcitius, who gave the order, is now asleep and cannot be awakened.
The soldiers note their chief's comatose state, implying divine intervention.