The Tragedy of Coriolanus

by William Shakespeare

Overview

The tragedy of Coriolanus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that is speculated to have been written somewhere in the period of 1605 and 1608. The play revolves around the life of the brave Roman leader, Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the similar years he wrote 'Antony and Cleopatra', making them the last two tragedies composed by him. Coriolanus is the name given to a Roman general after his military triumphs against the Volscians at Corioli. Following his win he looks out to be a diplomat, however, his scorn for the plebeians and the shared antagonism of the tribunes lead to his exile from Rome. He introduces himself to the Volscians, then leads them against Rome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9791041995516
Publisher:	Culturea
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Jan Blits is Emeritus Professor, University of Delaware.

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Read an Excerpt

ACT I. Scene I. [Rome. A street.]

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons.

1. Citizen Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All. Speak, speak!

1. Citizen You are all resolv’d rather to die than to famish?

All. Resolv’d, resolv’d!

1. Citizen First, you know Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people. 5

All. We know’t, we know’t!

1. Citizen Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is’t a verdict?

All. No more talking on’t! Let it be done! Away, away!

2. Citizen One word, good citizens. 9

1. Citizen We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

2. Citizen Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius? 15

1. Citizen Against him first. He’s a very dog to the commonalty.

2. Citizen Consider you what services he has done for his country?

1. Citizen Very well, and could be content to give him good report for’t but that he pays himself with being proud.

2. Citizen Nay, but speak not maliciously. 20

1. Citizen I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end. Though soft-conscienc’d men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother and to be partly proud, which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2. Citizen What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

1. Citizen If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations. He hath faults (with surplus) to tire in
repetition. 25

Shouts within.

What shouts are these? The other side o’ th’ city is risen. Why stay we prating here? To th’ Capitol!

All. Come, come!

1. Citizen Soft! who comes here?

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Kittredge Edition
Introduction to the Focus Edition
Coriolanus
How to Read Coriolanus as Performance
Timeline
Topics for Discussion and Further Study
Bibliography

Interviews

Appropriate for all level of Shakespeare courses, including courses on Shakespeare, or drama, or Renaissance drama as taught in departments of English, courses in Shakespeare or drama taught in departments of theater, Great Books programs where individual volumes might be used, or high school level courses.

Editorial Reviews

Penguin chose to revamp its venerable Pelican Shakespeare line in 1999. The updated series includes more accurate texts and new introductions by the current crop of leading Shakespearean scholars. The good stuff just gets better with age. (Classic Returns, LJ 10/15/99) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

YA-- Four more useful volumes accessible to high-school students of Shakespeare. Each includes a stage history, a critical history, and a few short critical analyses by the authors.

School Library Journal

"Jan Blits's invaluable edition of Coriolanus opens up new vistas for its readers by providing rare insights into Shakespeare’s remarkable artistry and acuity in dramatizing ancient Rome—its history, its heroes, and its aspirations. In addition, Professor Blits's references to key sources on Rome enable curious readers to conduct their own further investigations under his learned guidance. In short, Blits’s edition makes the depths of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus accessible in ways previous versions do not."
—Vickie B. Sullivan, Cornelia M. Jackson Professor of Political Science, Tufts University

"With this edition of Coriolanus, together with his editions of Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra, Jan Blits completes his masterful trilogy of commentary on Shakespeare’s dramatic portrait of the ancient Roman Republic. His introductory essay, extensive and detailed notes to the text, and useful glossary provide readers, students, and scholars of Shakespeare’s Roman plays with a comprehensive account of the dominant themes and circumstances in the dramatic action—especially from the perspective of ancient history and political philosophy. From the foundation of the Roman Republic and its inevitable tension between extraordinary martial prowess, the pursuit of self-sufficient virtue, and republican devotion to the common good, Blits creates a compelling historical, political, and philosophical framework for understanding Shakespeare's Coriolanus and Rome."
—Dustin Gish, The Honors College, University of Houston

From the Publisher