Coriolanus Criticism
William Shakespeare's Coriolanus, often considered his parting gift to the genre of tragedy, is a complex exploration of personal ambition, political dynamics, and familial relationships. Composed between 1605 and 1609, the play showcases the tragic downfall of its titular character, a warrior whose pride and disdain for the Roman plebeians serve as both his strength and his undoing. Scholars have long examined its portrayal of political life, drawing parallels between the tensions depicted on stage and those in Jacobean England, such as the Midlands Insurrection of 1607. Critics like A. P. Rossiter and Norman Rabkin explore these political themes, with the latter seeing it as a critique of both anarchy and absolutism.
The psychological and familial depths of Coriolanus's character are key aspects of critical inquiry. His oedipal relationship with his mother, Volumnia, and his struggle with identity are examined by scholars such as Robert N. Watson, while Madelon Sprengnether and Coppélia Kahn explore the gender dynamics and maternal influences inherent in his relationship with Volumnia. Joyce Van Dyke and John Bligh further highlight his reliance on gesture over speech and his steadfast adherence to aristocratic ideals.
The thematic richness of Coriolanus extends into its language and visual imagery. Critics like Jean MacIntyre and Zvi Jagendorf analyze the play's use of clothing imagery and body wholeness metaphors to underscore class distinctions and power dynamics. These elements are brought to life in diverse theatrical productions, such as Jonathan Kent's 2000 Almeida Theatre production featuring Ralph Fiennes, which was praised by Charles Isherwood and critiqued by Ben Brantley for its approach to character and heroism.
Political interpretations remain key to understanding Coriolanus. As observed by critics like Marc Geisler and Alex Garganigo, the play reflects societal conflicts similar to those before the English Civil War, critiquing both societal structures and royal policies. Political readings by Shannon Miller and Tetsuya Motohashi further extend these analyses, while J. L. Simmons provides a perspective that places the plebeians as the moral center.
The enduring relevance of Coriolanus lies in its intricate examination of identity, power, and societal structure, drawing scholars and audiences alike to revisit its themes and characters. As critics like Richard C. Crowley and R. B. Parker have demonstrated, the play’s exploration of the intersections of personal and political realms ensures its place as a pivotal work in Shakespeare's oeuvre.
Contents
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Coriolanus (Vol. 64)
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Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
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Coriolanus and the Epic Genre
(summary)
In the essay below, Crowley contends that in Coriolanus Shakespeare was working within the framework of a mixed genre—an amalgamation of tragic and epic form.
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Tragic Superfluity in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the essay that follows, Holstun discusses the genre of Coriolanus, and considers the play’s relation to both tragedy and comedy.
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Coriolanus—A Tragedy of Love
(summary)
In the essay below, Dean examines the play’s politics, dismissing the ‘ideological’ approach and contending that Coriolanus is a 'tragedy of thwarted love.'
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‘Manhood and Chevalrie’: Coriolanus, Prince Henry, and the Chivalric Revival
(summary)
In the following essay, Wells reviews the conflict between war and peace in ancient Rome as it is depicted in Coriolanus and examines how these conflicts parallel the political situation of Shakespeare’s own time.
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Coriolanus and the Epic Genre
(summary)
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Criticism: Character Studies
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Martial Ambition and the Family Romance in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Watson views Coriolanus's development in the play as a journey from his “natural self,” as a man with a questionable hereditary identity, to an “artificial self,”—an ideal, even divine, warrior. Coriolanus aspires to replace his limited hereditary identity with an ideal martial one, to transform himself from a merely human creature, made of flesh, appetite, and compassion, into a virtually divine warrior, made of steel, honor, and wrath. The story of Coriolanus' journey from a natural to an artificial self has epic attributes. It begins in medias res; it implicitly involves the hero's temporary death, his visitation by a spirit from the underworld who informs his quest, and his battle with the gods; and from one viewpoint it becomes, like the Virgilian epic, a story of national reconsecration. The end of the journey marks the salvation of the Roman people and the maturation of Roman democracy. But Coriolanus is trapped in a genre, as well as a city, whose ethos he can neither understand nor accommodate; he naively awaits the unambiguous endorsement of his heroic exertions that the complex world of Shakespearean tragedy, like the complex world of Rome, refuses to provide. He mistakenly supposes that his is an epic mission, that he is fighting for Rome's survival in striving for martial perfection; whereas in fact, the valorous principles he identifies with his city will finally demand that he destroy that city. He dies in exile, and the Rome he had been fighting for dies with him, if indeed it ever existed. Coriolanus' tragic dilemma, and his tragic solitude, arise from his misconceptions about the mores of Rome. He imagines that he is fulfilling his natural identity as the offspring of his mother and his motherland, but his course is so completely unnatural that it eventually turns him against family and city alike.
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Characterizing Coriolanus
(summary)
In the essay that follows, Goldman examines the unique way in which Coriolanus is discussed by the other characters in the play, noting that the other characters experience great difficulty in characterizing him.
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The Paradox of Greatness and the Limits of Pragmatism in Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
In the essay that follows, Datta states that the central dilemma faced by Coriolanus is his disgust for, and battle to come to terms with, the pragmatism practiced by Rome's leaders and his admirers.
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Martial Ambition and the Family Romance in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Production Reviews
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The Shakespeare Theatre, 1991-92
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Johnson-Haddad praises director William Gaskill's effort to stage a minimalist Coriolanus, but adds that the production suffered from a weak cast and the absence of a unified vision.
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Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon, 1994-95
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Jackson comments on the French Revolutionary setting of David Thacker's production of Coriolanus, and states that the liberties Thacker took with the text were effective.
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A review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the review that follows, Liston offers a generally favorable assessment of Coriolanus, as directed by Tony Taccone. The production, notes Liston, is set in the feudalistic future and features an “eclectic” treatment of costuming and props.
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A review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following review, Smith offers a negative assessment of Ralph Fiennes's Coriolanus, although the critic does praise the efforts of the other principal actors. Smith maintains that the play was unable to effectively dramatize Coriolanus's “martial superiority.”
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The Shakespeare Theatre, 1991-92
(summary)
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Criticism: Themes
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Words, Acts, and Things: Visual Language in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the essay below, MacIntyre explores the significance of the stage and costume directions in Coriolanus, discussing as well the language related to clothing in the play. The critic demonstrates the way in which these elements, in combination with the play's visual language, support the audience's understanding of the individual characters.
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Coriolanus: Body Politic and Private Parts
(summary)
In the following essay, Jagendorf relates the play's rhetoric of war to the fractured nature of the political body in Coriolanus, showing that the aristocratic class is associated with wholeness and fullness, compared to the fragmentation and emptiness which characterizes references to the Roman citizenry.
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Voiceless Bodies and Bodiless Voices: The Drama of Human Perception in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the essay that follows, Walker studies Coriolanus as a play focused on the battle between 'body and speech.' Walker observes that in Coriolanus's derision for speech, a parallel hatred for time is revealed and contends that Coriolanus seeks to live in a single moment that transcends time.
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Words, Acts, and Things: Visual Language in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
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Coriolanus (Vol. 75)
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Criticism: Character Studies
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The Herculean Hero
(summary)
In the following essay, originally published in 1962, Waith dissects Coriolanus's character, finding him to be a praiseworthy, though flawed, hero. Waith maintains that Coriolanus's greatness may be observed in his valor, generosity, and his faithfulness to his personal honor.
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Shakespeare's Coriolanus: ‘Could I Find Out / The Woman's Part in Me.’
(summary)
In the following essay, Carducci asserts that Coriolanus is a psychologically unbalanced character, and that Shakespeare used various conventions, rhetoric, and staging devices to underscore Coriolanus's isolation from society.
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The Herculean Hero
(summary)
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Criticism: Production Reviews
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Masked Combat
(summary)
In the following review, Shore assesses Jonathan Kent's production of Coriolanus for London's Almeida Theater. Shore notes that Kent's production focused on the personal aspects of the play rather than on the social and political elements.
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Uneasy Leaders Whose Downfall Lay Within Themselves
(summary)
In the following review, Brantley evaluates the New York staging of Jonathan Kent's production of Coriolanus, starring Ralph Fiennes. Brantley observes that Fiennes's performance was accomplished but lacked depth, and that the production as a whole was engaging but failed to offer a deep investigation of the play's issues.
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The Death of Kings
(summary)
In the following review of Jonathan Kent's New York staging of Coriolanus, Lahr contends that Ralph Fiennes's Coriolanus lacked a sense of heroism and that Kent's direction failed to establish a point of view.
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following review of Jonathan Kent's London production of Coriolanus, Holder remarks that the formidable setting complemented the play's themes of psychic and physical violence. Holder applauds Ralph Fiennes's portrayal of Coriolanus as subtle and emotionally deep.
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Masked Combat
(summary)
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Criticism: Themes
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Collecting a National Voice: Shakespeare's Coriolanus and the People's Grievances
(summary)
In the following essay, Geisler examines the ways in which Coriolanus seems to presage the English Civil War of 1642, arguing that the play accurately dramatizes the way that political petitioning may be used against a monarchy.
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Coriolanus, the Union Controversy, and Access to the Royal Person
(summary)
In the following essay, Garganigo demonstrates the ways in which Shakespeare used the physical body and the notion of the body politic in Coriolanus to indirectly criticize both James I's plan to unite England and Scotland, and the royal patronage system.
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Collecting a National Voice: Shakespeare's Coriolanus and the People's Grievances
(summary)
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Criticism: Character Studies
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Coriolanus (Vol. 86)
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Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
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Sounds, Words, Gestures and Deeds in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Thomas contrasts Shakespeare's dramatic presentation of Coriolanus with Plutarch's historical assessment of the figure, comparing the two authors' divergent handling of character, story, and theme.
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Introduction to The Oxford Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Parker surveys political, psychological, and existential approaches to theme and character in Coriolanus, exploring the mutual influence of psychology and politics, the class conflict between patricians and plebeians, and the tragic question of human freedom and individuality.
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Sounds, Words, Gestures and Deeds in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Character Studies
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Making a Scene: Language and Gesture in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Van Dyke explores Shakespeare's characterization of Coriolanus through his non-verbal self-expression and use of language.
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Shakespeare's Coriolanus, His Metamorphosis from Man to Monster
(summary)
In the following essay, Michael concentrates on Coriolanus as an isolated, tragic figure whose failure involves an inability to assert his own humanity.
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Shakespeare's Coriolanus: The Premature Epitaph and the Butterfly
(summary)
In the following essay, Givan traces the sources of Coriolanus's self-destructive behavior.
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The Mind of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Bligh highlights Coriolanus's unswerving devotion to a set of aristocratic ideals that eventually contribute to his undoing.
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Making a Scene: Language and Gesture in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Production Reviews
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpted review, Isherwood assesses director Jonathan Kent's 2000 production of Coriolanus at the Almeida Theatre in London, focusing on Ralph Fiennes's emotionally intense performance in the drama's title role.
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following review of director David Farr's 2002 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Coriolanus at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Carnegy finds the exotic setting in feudal Japan visually appealing and describes the compelling performance of Greg Hicks as a haughty and aloof Coriolanus.
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpted review of the 2003 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Coriolanus, Jackson praises the production's powerful evocation of the drama's themes of family pride and political strife.
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following review, Liston critiques director David Farr's 2003 production of Coriolanus at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, remarking on the ritualistic, stylized atmosphere of the production and Greg Hicks's fascinating, contemptuous Coriolanus.
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Review of Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Themes
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Livy, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, originally published in 1985, Barton emphasizes the historical and political themes of Coriolanus and considers the influence of Livy and Machiavelli on Shakespeare's dramatization of republican Rome.
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You Shames of Rome!
(summary)
In the following essay, Poole argues that the compelling power of shame is one of the thematic touchstones of Coriolanus.
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Livy, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
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Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
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Coriolanus (Vol. 50)
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Overview
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Cracking Strong Curbs Asunder: Roman Destiny and the Roman Hero in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Velz argues that Coriolanus does not reflect a Plutarchian perspective, as is traditionally thought; instead, the play draws on Vergil in its depiction of "the cosmic Necessity that destroys a great but flawed man."
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Cracking Strong Curbs Asunder: Roman Destiny and the Roman Hero in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Self-Identity And Coriolanus' Body
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Wound-man: Coriolanus, Gender, and the Theatrical Construction of Interiority
(summary)
In the essay that follows, Marshall examines the ways in which the figure of Coriolanus challenges the ideal of the impenetrable body as a necessary condition of masculinity.
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Wound-man: Coriolanus, Gender, and the Theatrical Construction of Interiority
(summary)
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Shakespeare's Politics
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'Coriolanus' and the Body Politic
(summary)
In the following essay, Gurr explores Coriolanus as a critique of the concept of the body politic by examining Shakespeare's topical references to the Midlands riots and parliamentary quarrels.
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Coriolanus and 'th'interpretation of the time
(summary)
In the following essay, Parker contends that, in Coriolanus, Shakespeare puts forward 'the familial link' as the core of political life that resists the flux of historical upheaval.
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Against the Grain: Representing the Market in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Wilson interprets Coriolanus as Shakespeare's depiction of an emerging market economy, focusing particularly on his treatment of the fluctuation of values.
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Topicality and Subversion in William Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
In this essay, Miller understands Coriolanus as Shakespeare's attempt to reconceive the cultural significance of the topical events that shaped the play.
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'Coriolanus' and the Body Politic
(summary)
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Overview
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Coriolanus (Vol. 30)
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Overviews
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Name and Fame: Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Gordon examines the acts of naming in Coriolanus as a means to exploring the play's social commentary and its approach to the concept of honor.
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Coriolanus— and the Delights of Faction
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Burke explores Coriolanus in terms of the aesthetic and ethical assumptions audiences bring to tragedy, concluding that Shakespeare's portrayal of strained class relations serves as a cathartic "invective" against the state.
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Coriolanus: Interpretation
(summary)
In the following essay, Craig discusses Coriolanus with regard to Plutarch's description of the events and Shakespeare's understanding of class structure.
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Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Grene compares familial and political relationships as portrayed in Coriolanus, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. He discusses how Coriolanus, along with Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra, focuses on soldier heroes and the relationship between personal power and political authority, highlighting the differences in their portrayals.
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Name and Fame: Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
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Politics And Power
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Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, which was originally delivered as a lecture in 1952, Rossiter praises Coriolanus as the 'greatest of the Histories,' contending that the play realistically depicts the ironies of politics.
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Coriolanus: The Tragedy of Politics
(summary)
In the following essay, Rabkin claims that Coriolanus presents Shakespeare's tragic view of politics and his criticism of two inviable political extremes: unquestioning appeal to popular sentiment and strict adherence to absolutist codes.
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The Age of Elizabeth: Challenge
(summary)
In the following essay, Hale discusses Coriolanus' downfall in terms of Menenius ' "fable of the belly," and the metaphor of the body politic.
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Coriolanus and Interpretations of Politics ('Who Does the Wolf Love?')
(summary)
In the following essay first published in Representations in 1983, Cavell surveys recurring images of consumption in Coriolanus, especially their uses as political metaphors.
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'Say I Play the Man I Am': Gender and Politics in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Lowe sees in the world of Coriolanus a complex interaction between gender and politics, against which Coriolanus rebels in his refusal to be named.
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Coriolanus
(summary)
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Coriolanus
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Coriolanus As Tragic Hero
(summary)
In the following essay, Oliver considers Coriolanus a tragic play because Coriolanus' character precludes participation in a democracy.
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The Thing I Am: Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Bayley explores the relation of Coriolanus to his wife and his mother, and insists that "the tragedy of Coriolanus lies in his individuality."
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Coriolanus and His Mother
(summary)
In the following excerpt, King describes the allegiance of Coriolanus to his mother and her effect on him when he seeks revenge on Rome.
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Coriolanus As Tragic Hero
(summary)
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Women In Coriolanus
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Annihilating Intimacy in Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Sprengnether uses a psychoanalytical approach in exploring the relationship between Coriolanus and Volumnia, arguing that Shakespeare's tragedies demonstrate the ways in which love kills, particularly focusing on the structures of homoerotic and heteroerotic bonding and the implications of maternal destructiveness in Coriolanus.
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Mother of Battles: Volumnia and Her Son in Shakespeare's Coriolanus
(summary)
In the following essay, Kahn explores the 'interaction between mothering and warmaking' in the relationship between Coriolanus and Volumnia.
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Annihilating Intimacy in Coriolanus
(summary)
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Overviews
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Coriolanus and the Failure of Performatives
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Introduction
(summary)
Coriolanus, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, explores the complexities of political power and personal identity through the lens of the titular character, a Roman general whose rigid personal code clashes with the political necessities of statecraft. As noted by John Plotz from Harvard University, the play delves into the 'failure of performatives,' highlighting the inadequacy of traditional roles and societal expectations in the face of evolving political dynamics. This theme resonates with the philosophical inquiry of Wittgenstein, who questioned the validity and the very possibility of playing the 'right game' amidst ever-changing societal demands. Through its intense exploration of personal and political conflict, Coriolanus scrutinizes the nature of public performance and the personal authenticity, making it a rich subject for literary criticism and philosophical reflection.
- I. Introduction: Whose Tragedy?
- Ii. Siding With The Public: The Problem With Recent Criticism
- Iii. Rooted And Roted Speech
- Iv. Desert And Not Desire: Coriolanus's Response
- V. Who's Banished?
- Vi. A Third Way? Not Utopia, Not Silence
- Vii. A Third Way? Licking Language
- Viii. Conclusion: Welches Ist Das Rechte Spiel?
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Introduction
(summary)
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The Return of the Domestic in Coriolanus
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Introduction
(summary)
Coriolanus, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, explores complex themes of power, politics, and identity. Central to the play is the protagonist, Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a Roman general whose pride and disdain for popular opinion lead to his downfall. The play is notable for its examination of the tension between individual ambition and collective responsibility, as well as the intricate dynamics of public and private life. As observed by Ann C. Christensen from the University of Houston, the play also brings a attention to the domestic sphere, highlighting the influence of familial relationships and private motivations on political actions. This intersection of the personal and political in Coriolanus offers rich ground for analysis, inviting readers to consider how personal vendettas and familial ties shape public discourse and decision-making. The play remains a poignant study of the human condition, resonating with contemporary audiences through its exploration of the costs of pride and inflexibility in leadership.
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- II
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- IV
- V
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Introduction
(summary)
- Coriolanus: Punishment of the Civil Body
- The Noble Thing and the Boy of Tears: Coriolanus and the Embarrassments of Identity
- Further Reading