Shakespeare | Coriolanus | A Review
Shakespeare’s Coriolanus-A Review
‘Coriolanus’ is a play written by the famous playwright William Shakespeare in the early 17th century. It tells the story of the Roman general Caius Martius Coriolanus and his complex relationship with his fellow citizens, the plebeians, and the patricians who govern them. The play is a tragic depiction of the consequences of pride, arrogance, and a lack of compromise in politics and society.
The play is set in Rome, a city that is experiencing social unrest and political instability. The plebeians are unhappy with their living conditions and the lack of representation they have in the government, and they revolt against the patricians. Caius Martius Coriolanus, a celebrated military leader, is a patrician who despises the plebeians and their demands for equality. He has little patience for their complaints and is quick to use violence to suppress their rebellion.
Coriolanus is a complex character who is at once heroic and deeply flawed. He is a skilled warrior who has led his army to many victories, but he is also arrogant and dismissive of those he considers beneath him. His pride is his downfall, as he refuses to compromise with the plebeians and ends up being banished from Rome as a result.
The play explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the abuse of power. Coriolanus’s loyalty to his family and his own sense of honor leads him to make decisions that ultimately bring about his downfall. His betrayal of Rome and his subsequent alliance with Rome’s enemies are seen as acts of treason and are met with severe consequences.
The play also features a strong cast of supporting characters, including Coriolanus’s mother, Volumnia, who is a domineering and manipulative figure. She pushes Coriolanus to pursue his military ambitions and is quick to criticize him when he shows any sign of weakness. The plebeians are portrayed as a diverse group with varying motives and agendas, and their leaders, including the shrewd and charismatic tribunes Brutus and Sicinius, play a key role in shaping the events of the play.
The language of the play is rich and poetic, as is typical of Shakespeare’s work. The dialogue is filled with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, and the speeches of the main characters are some of the most memorable in Shakespeare’s canon. The play also contains several memorable action scenes, including the siege of Corioli, which is depicted with great detail and intensity.
Overall, Coriolanus is a thought-provoking play that explores timeless themes of power, politics, and the human condition. It is a complex and challenging work that rewards careful study and close attention to detail. While it may not be as well-known as some of Shakespeare’s more famous plays, such as Hamlet or Macbeth, it is certainly worth reading and is a valuable addition to any study of Shakespeare or Renaissance drama. 0 0 0.
Shakespeare Coriolanus A Review
N. B. This article ‘Shakespeare Coriolanus A Review’ originally belongs to the book ‘Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works …
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