Dec 18, 2009

The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Coriolanus

Coriolanus (The Tragedie of Coriolanus)

Author: William Shakespeare

First Performance: c.1607–10, London

Published: 1623

Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; blank verse and prose

Setting: Rome, Coriolani, and Antium, early 5th c. bc

Cast: 16m, 4f, extras

Caius Marcius, although acknowledged as a brave soldier, is despised by the Roman mob for his arrogance. Against his will, the hungry populace is granted representation by tribunes. Marcius leads the Romans into war against the Volscians, single-handedly achieving victory despite being abandoned to his fate by the plebeians within the walls of Corioli. Honoured as Coriolanus, Marcius returns to Rome to become consul, but only if the common people support him. Thanks to his supercilious behaviour, they soon reject him, threatening to sentence him to death and...

[The entire page is 357 words long]

The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Coriolanus

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