The story of Amphitryon predates Plautus. Dryden borrows from the Roman comic playwright and, more heavily, from Moliere to make what is unquestionably at once one of his funniest and bleakest comedies. He makes Jove a tyrant who places Alcmena and her husband in an almost tragic predicament. But their situation is reflected also in that of one of the world's great comic servants, Sosia, and in spite of the dark overtones, the play plentifully arouses laughter.