I'm writing a paper on social and political critique in Plautus' Miles Gloriosus, and I can't seem to find any information on where playwrights stood socially in the Roman Republic. I'd like to see if I can relate Plautus' treatment with the way he subverts social roles in his play, but nothing I've found discusses this. A source, or at least direction on where to look, would be awesome. Thanks!
Erich Segal's book on Plautus Roman Laughter: The Comedy of Plautus is pretty useful to any paper on Plautus and I think he does go into the historical context a bit.
As a side note, you might want to check out Kathleen McCarthy's book Slaves, Masters, and the Art of Authority in Plautine Comedy because if I remember correctly, she specifically argues against Segal and seeing Plautus as subversive. I don't necessarily agree with her, but it might provide you with interesting contrast.