Shakespeare's Coriolanus and Plutarch: Part 3/3
Mar 28, 2005 -
© Bingley
Shakespeare's Coriolanus and Plutarch: Part 3/3
Mar 28, 2005 -
© Bingley
CORIOLANUS My name is Caius Marcius, who hath done
To thee particularly and to all the Volsces
Great hurt and mischief; thereto witness may
My surname, Coriolanus: the painful service,
The extreme dangers and the drops of blood
Shed for my thankless country are requited
But with that surname; a good memory,
And witness of the malice and displeasure
Which thou shouldst bear me: only that name remains;
The cruelty and envy of the people,
Permitted by our dastard nobles, who
Have all forsook me, hath devour'd the rest;
And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be
Whoop'd out of Rome. | |
Plutarch has a more detailed explanation of how the war between Rome and the Volsces was brought about. See the North translation, section 26.
Act 4 Scene 6 Back in Rome, the citizens regret banishing Coriolanus when they hear that he and Aufidius are on the march against Rome.
Coriolanus' approach throws the city into a panic. See the North translation, section 30.
Act 4 Scene 7
Aufidius reveals that he is still full of hatred and jealousy for Coriolanus, and that he has a plan to trap him once Rome has been conquered.
For Plutarch's account of Tullus Aufidius' motivations, see the North translation, section 31.
Act 5 Scene 1
Sicinius and Brutus persuade Menenius to go to Coriolanus to plead with him to have mercy on Rome, Cominius having failed in a similar mission.
Plutarch also mentions two missions to Coriolanus by Senators. Shakespeare has Cominius' mission dismissed without a word and a note of Coriolanus' terms sent afterwards (although we are not told what they were), while Plutarch gives us details of the terms and mentions a 30-day truce for the Romans to consider them. See the North translation, section 30 and section 31.
Act 5 Scene 2
Menenius is prevented from entering the Volcian camp by the guards, and then turned away unheard by Coriolanus himself, who does, however, give Coriolanus a letter he had already prepared.
According to Plutarch, the second embassy is given another 3-day truce, but warned not to come again unless Rome is prepared to capitulate. See the North translation, section 31.
Act 5 Scene 3
Volumnia (Coriolanus' mother), Virgilia (Coriolanus' wife), and Coriolanus' son eventually persuade him to spare Rome, despite his initial reluctance.
Although according to Plutarch, the
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