Coriolanus Play
Coriolanus, meaning "conqueror of Corioli"
tells the story of a Caius Marcius, a heroic Roman soldier
in the 5th Century BC who gains this name for a victory
at Corioli. Preferring the simple life of a soldier,
Caius Marcius shuns fame and the petty politics of Rome.
Famine however has gripped Rome and many believe Rome's
rulers, the Patricians are responsible and are hoarding
food. Caius Marcius in particular is blamed, but crisis
is averted when it is learned the Volscians intend to
capture Rome. Ever the warrior, Caius Marcius leads
the attack on the Volscian city of Corioli, some three
days distant.
The war does not go well, the Volscians initially turning
the Romans back. Only Caius Marcius keeps fighting,
his courage inspiring his troops to rejoin the battle.
During this battle, Caius Marcius fights Aufidius, the
Volscian leader but he flees, denying Marcus victory
over a worthy opponent. Victorious, Caius Marcius brings
glory to Rome and in particular his mother Volumnia
who sees her son as a means of securing personal prestige
in Rome. Caius Marcius' wife Virgilia hates bloodshed
and is delighted to have her husband back.
Returning to Rome, and to his ambitious mother's supreme
delight, the Senate nominates him to be a consul, one
of just two men who have supreme power over Rome. However,
to be consul, Caius Marcius must ask the common people
for this honor. Supremely proud, Caius Marcius reluctantly
asks or in Marcius' eyes begs to be made a tribune representing
the citizens of Rome. Unfortunately fellow tribunes
Sicinius Velutus and Junius Brutus see Caius Marcius
becoming too popular, too powerful and fearing him,
incite the citizens of Rome to have Caius Marcius put
to death. Enraged at this betrayal, he leaves his Rome
for Antium where he decides to help Aufidius and the
Volsces conquer Rome and its empire.
Aufidius is touched by Caius Marcius' betrayal, agreeing
that this is not how soldiers should be treated.Together
the empire is largely defeated and Rome itself is under
threat. The Romans try to convince Caius Marcius not
to attack, old friend Menenius failing to dissuade the
angry soldier. Volumnia, playing on Caius Marcius' love
for his wife Virgilia and his son, and on bended knee,
however is more successful, convincing her son to make
peace rather than war. This earns Volumnia prestige
as the savior of Rome.
Now at peace, Marcius with Aufidius returns to Corioli
but Aufidius notices that Caius Marcius is more popular
with his people and soldiers alike than he is. Aufidius
uses the fact that the fact that the Volscians have
not conquered Rome to justify murdering the conquerer
of Corioli, Caius Marcius right in view of the Lords
of Corioli. His rage spent, Aufidius realises what he
had done, killed a noble soldier not unlike himself.
Overcome with remorse, Aufidius gives Caius Marcius
a proper burial, and decides that Caius Marcius shall
be remembered as a great soldier, creating a memorial
in Caius Marcius' honor.
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene
I, Scene II, Scene
III, Scene IV, Scene
V, Scene VI,
Scene VII,
Scene VIII, Scene
IX, Scene X
Act II
Scene I,
Scene II, Scene
III
Act III
Scene
I, Scene II, Scene
III
Act IV
Scene
I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI,
Scene VII
Act V
Scene
I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
|