CoriolanusSet in the earliest days of the Roman Republic, Coriolanus begins with the common people, or plebeians, in armed revolt against the patricians. The people win the right to be represented by tribunes. Meanwhile, there are foreign enemies near the gates of Rome. The play explores one reason that Rome prevailed over such vulnerabilities: its reverence for family bonds. Coriolanus so esteems his mother, Volumnia, that he risks his life to win her approval. Even the value of family, however, is subordinate to loyalty to the Roman state. When the two obligations align, the combination is irresistible. Coriolanus is so devoted to his family and to Rome that he finds the decision to grant the plebians representation intolerable. To him, it elevates plebeians to a status equal with his family and class, to Rome’s great disadvantage. He risks his political career to have the tribunate abolished—and is banished from Rome. Coriolanus then displays an apparently insatiable vengefulness against the state he idolized, opening a tragic divide within himself, pitting him against his mother and family, and threatening Rome’s very existence. The authoritative edition of Coriolanus from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: -The exact text of the printed book for easy cross-reference -Hundreds of hypertext links for instant navigation -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Heather James The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu. |
Contents
Editors Preface | ix |
Coriolanus | xiii |
Coriolanus | xv |
Shakespeares Life | xxvii |
Shakespeares Theater | xxxvii |
The Publication of Shakespeares Plays | xlvii |
An Introduction to This Text | li |
Text of the Play with Commentary | 1 |
ACT 3 Scene 2 | 153 |
ACT 3 Scene 3 | 165 |
ACT 4 Scene 1 | 181 |
ACT 4 Scene 2 | 185 |
ACT 4 Scene 3 | 191 |
ACT 4 Scene 4 | 193 |
ACT 4 Scene 5 | 197 |
ACT 4 Scene 6 | 213 |
ACT 1 Scene 1 | 7 |
ACT 1 Scene 2 | 27 |
ACT 1 Scene 3 | 31 |
ACT 1 Scene 4 | 39 |
ACT 1 Scene 5 | 45 |
ACT 1 Scene 6 | 49 |
ACT 1 Scene 7 | 55 |
ACT 1 Scene 8 | 57 |
ACT 1 Scene 9 | 59 |
ACT 1 Scene 10 | 65 |
ACT 2 Scene 1 | 71 |
ACT 2 Scene 2 | 89 |
ACT 2 Scene 3 | 101 |
ACT 3 Scene 1 | 125 |
ACT 4 Scene 7 | 227 |
ACT 5 Scene 1 | 235 |
ACT 5 Scene 2 | 241 |
ACT 5 Scene 3 | 247 |
ACT 5 Scene 4 | 263 |
ACT 5 Scene 5 | 267 |
ACT 5 Scene 6 | 269 |
Longer Notes | 283 |
Textual Notes | 291 |
A Modern Perspective | 297 |
Further Reading | 309 |
Key to Famous Lines and Phrases | 341 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action actors appear arms Aufidius battle bear become blood body BRUTUS called CITIZEN COMINIUS common consul Coriolanus Coriolanus’s Corioles death direction early edition enemy English Enter exit eyes face fight Folio follow friends further gates give given gods hand hath head hear heart honor human language leave less live London longer look lord mark Martius matter means MENENIUS MESSENGER mother nature never noble patricians peace performance perhaps picture play plebeians political pray present Press printed remain Roman Rome scene SECOND SECOND CITIZEN SENATOR SERVINGMAN Shake Shakespeare’s SICINIUS soldiers sound speak speech stage stand sword tell theater thee thing THIRD thou Titus tribunes true University VIRGILIA voices Volsces Volscian VOLUMNIA wish worthy wounds