Coriolanus – “If any think brave death outweighs bad life… let him alone… wave thus, to express his disposition.”

Coriolanus – “If any think brave death outweighs bad life… let him alone… wave thus, to express his disposition.”

In April of 1607, riots against the enclosure of common land took over much of the Midlands of England. Starting in Haselbech and Pytchley it eventually spread to Shakespeare’s home county of Warwickshire. At the height of the riots, Captain Pouchh (John Reynolds) said to his protestors that he had the authority of the King of England and of God to destroy the enclosures and he said that he would protect them with the contents of his pouch. In Shakespeare’s own county of Warwickshire, almost 5,000 protestors destroyed enclosures. The law came in with an iron hand. Curphews were imposed and eventually the protestors were subdued.

Shakespeare seemed to like order and rule and seemed genuinely frightened of mob rule and the loss of order. He had fought hard to get a coat of arms for his family name. He had bought up considerable property around Stratford upon Avon. For all his adventurous, innovativeness and creativeness as a writer, Shakespeare was in many ways a conservative in his private life. The riots pf 1607 would have scared Shakespeare and his writing of ‘Coriolanus’ can be seen as an exploration of Shakespeare exploring notions of power, mob rule, public discontent and opposition to government and peasant revolt.

Shakespeare would have most certainly traveled back to Stratford upon Avon in June of 1607 for the marriage of his daughter Susanna (who was 24 at the time) to Dr John Hall (who was 32). He had been involved in dowry negotiations for much of early 1607 and probably the most substantial part of this dowry was 104 acres in Old Stratford. This would leave no dowry for Shakespeare's younger daughter Judith. Susanna and John Hall had one daughter called Elizabeth who was born in 1608 and she became the last surviving direct relative of William Shakespeare when she died in 1670.

In December of 1607, William Shakespeare helped to bury his brother Edmund Shakespeare in Southwark in London. Edmund had followed William to London and he had become a small time actor. Edmund died in poverty and William Shakespeare probably paid for the burial with a "forenoone knell of the great bell". He would have then travelled back to London to try to have at least one new play for the new season.

We know Shakespeare was familiar with and perhaps even had a copy of the 1579 Thomas North English translation of Plutarch’s ‘The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans’. There are significant references to and even parts of speeches in the text from Camden’s ‘Remains of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine’ so we know that Shakespeare also used this.

The play starts in the streets of Rome around 350 to 400BC with people rioting in the streets. This scene is reminiscent of the riots of plebeians in the streets half way through ‘Julius Caesar’. The riots are over the price of grain and the people want the price of grain to be set to reasonable price rather than have it set by the Senate. As the mob make for the Capitol, they encounter the patrician Menenius, who tells them that the Senate has their interests at heart. The mob and Menenius argue and then Caius Martius enters and derides the mob calling them dogs. Caius Martius then reveals to Menenius that the Senate will let the plebeians elect five tribunes to represent their interests in the Roman Senate.

We then hear that the Volsces, enemies of Rome, are preparing for war under the guidance of a great general and then Cauis Martius (later to be known as Coriolanus) declares that Rome will go to war. Then some senators arrive and they command Cominius (a chief magistrate and consul) and Titus Lartius (a Roman patrician) to lead Rome into the war. The threat of impending war quietens the crowd and all is prepared in Rome for war.

We jump slightly forward in time to after the plebeians have elected their tribunes who include Sicinius and Brutus. They comment on Cauis Martius’s (later to be known as Coriolanus) pride and question whether he is up to commanding troupes in war but Sicinius thinks that Cauis Martius will avoid blame if Rome looses but get the credit if things go well.

“Such a nature,

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow

Which he treads on at noon: but I do wonder

His insolence can brook to be commanded

Under Cominius…

Besides, if things go well,

Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall

Of his demerits rob Cominius.”

We now move onto Corioles (a Volscian city) and see Tullus Aufidius, just before he is about to embark on the attack of Rome. The Senators of Corioles are told that the Romans are prepared for the attack but they don’t think that this is true and tell Aufidius to proceed as planned and tell him that he is only to return if the Romans directly attack the city of Corioles.

We switch back to Rome, where Cauis Martius’s mother and wife, Volumnia and Virgilia, are sewing and Volumnia brags how she has brought her son up to be a great soldier and expects him to easily defeat the Volscians. Valeria, another Roman woman of noble birth arrives and tells them news from the battle including that Titus Lartius and Cauis Martius are leading a direct attack on the city of Corioles.

We cross back to Corioles, where the Volscian Senators tell Martius and Lartius that Aufidius's mighty forces will soon arrive to slaughter the Romans and save the city. The Volscians drive the Romans back but then Cauis Martius curses the cowardice of his men and attempts to lead his men back to the walls of the city cursing his men for their cowardice. However, Cauis Martius ends up alone and then single-handedly battles the Volscians, forces open the gates of the city and then encourages the Roman army to invade the city.

The city is taken over and a bloody and wounded Cauis Martius joins up with Cominius's army and eventually ends up in direct hand to hand combat with the Volscian general Aufidius. Cauis Martius forces Aufidius and other Volscians to retreat. Rome has won but Cauis Martius does not personally want the spoils of war, leaving them to his men. Then Cominius lauds the exploits of Cauis Martius and insists that he should be given a new name for his courage and victories and so Cauis Martius becomes Coriolanus.

“Too modest are you;

More cruel to your good report than grateful

To us that give you truly: by your patience,

If 'gainst yourself you be incensed, we'll put you,

Like one that means his proper harm, in manacles,

Then reason safely with you. Therefore, be it known,

As to us, to all the world, that Caius Marcius

Wears this war's garland: in token of the which,

My noble steed, known to the camp, I give him,

With all his trim belonging; and from this time,

For what he did before Corioli, call him,

With all the applause and clamour of the host,

CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS! Bear

The addition nobly ever!”

Act One of ‘Coriolanus ends with Aufidius resenting that Cauis Martius has defeated him again and decides that he will eventually have to get the better of Cauis Martius but decides to reluctantly negotiate a peace with Rome for the moment:

“Condition!

I would I were a Roman; for I cannot,

Being a Volsce, be that I am. Condition!

What good condition can a treaty find

I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius,

I have fought with thee: so often hast thou beat me,

And wouldst do so, I think, should we encounter

As often as we eat. By the elements,

If e'er again I meet him beard to beard,

He's mine, or I am his: mine emulation

Hath not that honour in't it had; for where

I thought to crush him in an equal force,

True sword to sword, I'll potch at him some way

Or wrath or craft may get him…

Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour's poison'd

With only suffering stain by him; for him

Shall fly out of itself: nor sleep nor sanctuary,

Being naked, sick, nor fane nor Capitol,

The prayers of priests nor times of sacrifice,

Embarquements all of fury, shall lift up

Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst

My hate to Marcius: where I find him, were it

At home, upon my brother's guard, even there,

Against the hospitable canon, would I

Wash my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to the city;

Learn how 'tis held; and what they are that must

Be hostages for Rome.”

Coriolanus Act Two – “Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.”

In many ways, the events of Act Two Coriolanus can be seen as relevant to many modern political events. This act shows how political power brokers can use the traits of individuals in politics against them when it comes to getting popular support. The way events like the closing of the government of the United States or the see-sawing of the position of Prime Minister from Rudd to Gillard and back to Rudd and then Rudd's loss of public support at an election, make modern political events a very interesting backdrop to reading 'Coriolanus' in 2013. Who knows? Personally, I think a version of Coriolanus with an actress using traits of a female figure like the previous Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (or even Britain's Margaret Thatcher) would reinvigorate interest in a play that is more about power than it is about war. 

In the opening of Act Two of ‘Coriolanus’, we move back to Rome, where Brutus. Sicinius and Menenius wait for news from the battlefield. Brutus and Sicinius criticize Caius Martius (who we now know has been dubbed Coriolanus) as being rich in faults especially in pride but Menenius points out that they criticize Cauis Martius for the same faults as they themselves have:

“Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of

occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience:

give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at

your pleasures; at the least if you take it as a

pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for

being proud… You talk of pride: O that you

could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks,

and make but an interior survey of your good selves!

O that you could… Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates, alias fools, as

any in Rome.”

Sicinius turns to accuse Memenius with his own faults but Memenius knows his own reputation for liking a drink and gossip too well:

“I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that

loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying

Tiber in't; said to be something imperfect in

favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like

upon too trivial motion; one that converses more

with the buttock of the night than with the forehead

of the morning: what I think I utter, and spend my

malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as

you are--I cannot call you Lycurguses--if the drink

you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a

crooked face at it. I can't say your worships have

delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in

compound with the major part of your syllables: and

though I must be content to bear with those that say

you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that

tell you you have good faces. If you see this in

the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known

well enough too? what barm can your bisson

conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be

known well enough too?”

Then the women arrive. Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria bring news from letters of Caius Martius’s victory, the injuries he sustained and his imminent arrival back home. Cauis Martius has also had his victories and the whole war credited to him by being called Coriolanus. Volumnia, Caius Martius’s mother, seems pleased that he has sustained wounds that he can show the people of Rome. Menenius is pleased that Caius Martius is alive and that Rome has been victorious.

Caius Martius, now known as Coriolanus, enters Rome to the sound of trumpets and greets his mother and his wife. Surrounded by Cominius, Titus Lartius and Menenius, Coriolanus moves off to meet the Senate in the Capital.

Brutus and Sicinius are left and they seem upset that Coriolanus’s victories may make him a consul and they think that if given power, Coriolanus might disband their own offices. They find some solace in the thought that they think that Coriolanus is too proud to do what he would have to do and go out into the streets and the marketplace to get the support and votes of the common people since Coriolanus distains the masses. Brutus suggests that he and Sicinius must remind the common people of the distain Coriolanus regards them with.

“So it must fall out

To him or our authorities. For an end,

We must suggest the people in what hatred

He still hath held them; that to's power he would

Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders and

Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them,

In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul nor fitness for the world

Than camels in the war, who have their provand

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

For sinking under them.”

A messenger arrives to tell the Tribunes Brutus and Sicinius that they are summoned to go to the Capitol.

At the Capitol, two officers are putting out cushions for the Senate. They discuss the likelihood that Coriolanus will become consul. One states that although Coriolanus is brave “… he’s vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.” The other officer points out that:

“Faith, there had been many great men that have

flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there

be many that they have loved, they know not

wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why,

they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for

Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate

him manifests the true knowledge he has in their

disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets

them plainly see't…

He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his

ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who,

having been supple and courteous to the people,

bonneted, without any further deed to have them at

an into their estimation and report: but he hath so

planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions

in their hearts, that for their tongues to be

silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of

ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a

malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck

reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.”

The Senators and Coriolanus enter the chamber and Cominius reports “a little of the worthy work” of Coriolanus's bravery and feats against the Volscians. Coriolanus is a bit embarrassed and says that he would “rather have my wounds to heal again than hear say how I got them.” Coriolanus eventually leaves the Senate chamber. Cominius relates the battle and the deeds of Coriolanus:

“I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus

Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held

That valour is the chiefest virtue, and

Most dignifies the haver: if it be,

The man I speak of cannot in the world

Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,

When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought

Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,

Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,

When with his Amazonian chin he drove

The bristled lips before him: be bestrid

An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view

Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,

And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,

When he might act the woman in the scene,

He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed

Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age

Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea,

And in the brunt of seventeen battles since

He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,

Before and in Corioli, let me say,

I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers;

And by his rare example made the coward

Turn terror into sport: as weeds before

A vessel under sail, so men obey'd

And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp,

Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd

The mortal gate of the city, which he painted

With shunless destiny; aidless came off,

And with a sudden reinforcement struck

Corioli like a planet: now all's his:

When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce

His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit

Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,

And to the battle came he; where he did

Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if

'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd

Both field and city ours, he never stood

To ease his breast with panting.”

The Senators ask for Coriolanus to re-enter the chamber and say that they want to make him a consul of Rome. Coriolanus is told to put on a toga, go to the marketplace, describe his deeds and show his scars to the public so that he can gain their support and votes. But Coriolanus asks not to have to go through what he sees as a demeaning custom:

“I do beseech you,

Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot

Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them,

For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you

That I may pass this doing…

It is apart

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

Be taken from the people…

To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;

Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,

As if I had received them for the hire

Of their breath only!”

Coriolanus is made to relent and Coriolanus and most of the Senators leave. Brutus and Sicinius talk about Coriolanus’s reluctance and decide that they can use the to build more popular resentment for Coriolanus by telling the common people of Coriolanus’s reluctance to stand before them.

We cross to the marketplace, where common citizens discuss whether they should accept or deny making Coriolanus a consul. One citizen talks about the obligations that they are under for their choice of support.

“We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a

power that we have no power to do; for if he show us

his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our

tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if

he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him

our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is

monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful,

were to make a monster of the multitude: of the

which we being members, should bring ourselves to be

monstrous members.”

Coriolanus then enters with Menenius who offeres him encouragement before he leaves Coriolanus alone with the crowd. Coriolanus does not perform well with the public. The citizens approach him in small groups and some question that he has not loved the common people well. When requested, Coriolanus refuses to show the public his wounds but points out that he has acted in battle as their voice and should thus be made consul:

“Your voices: for your voices I have fought;

Watch'd for your voices; for Your voices bear

Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six

I have seen and heard of; for your voices have

Done many things, some less, some more your voices:

Indeed I would be consul.”

Coriolanus hears that he has managed to win the support of enough citizens and even Brutus and Sicinius resign themselves to the fact that Coriolanus seems to have gathered enough support. Coriolanus and Menenius exit so that Coriolanus can change out of his garments and go back to the Capitol to be invested as a consul.

After Coriolanus leaves, Brutus and Sicinius question why the plebeians chose Coriolanus and they say because he had their voices. Then some citizens start to note that Coriolanus seemed arrogant, flouted them, scorned them and even seemed to mock them. It is remarked that he refused to publicly. Brutus and Sicinius decide to point out Coriolanus’s faults, stir trouble and convince the plebeians to take away their approval of Coriolanus. Brutus is particularily clever in his oratory:

“Could you not have told him

As you were lesson'd, when he had no power,

But was a petty servant to the state,

He was your enemy, ever spake against

Your liberties and the charters that you bear

I' the body of the weal; and now, arriving

A place of potency and sway o' the state,

If he should still malignantly remain

Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might

Be curses to yourselves? You should have said

That as his worthy deeds did claim no less

Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature

Would think upon you for your voices and

Translate his malice towards you into love,

Standing your friendly lord…

Did you perceive

He did solicit you in free contempt

When he did need your loves, and do you think

That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,

When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies

No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry

Against the rectorship of judgment?

… Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,

They have chose a consul that will from them take

Their liberties; make them of no more voice

Than dogs that are as often beat for barking

As therefore kept to do so….

Lay a fault on us, your tribunes; that we laboured,

No impediment between, but that you must

Cast your election on him…

Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you.

How youngly he began to serve his country,

How long continued, and what stock he springs of,

The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came

That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,

Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;

Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,

That our beat water brought by conduits hither;

And [Censorinus,] nobly named so,

Twice being [by the people chosen] censor,

Was his great ancestor…

Say, you ne'er had done't--

Harp on that still--but by our putting on;

And presently, when you have drawn your number,

Repair to the Capitol.”

The plebeians are convinced to now withdraw their support and Brutus and Sicinius tell them to go to round up hundreds of friends to deny Coriolanus consul. They offer the crowd the excuse that they probably only voted for Coriolanus in the first place because they felt the tribunes forced them to. When left alone, Brutus and Sicinius revel in the way that the people and events have turned against Coriolanus. They decide to arrive at the Capitol before the citizens so that their part in this uprising is not discovered:

“To the Capitol, come:

We will be there before the stream o' the people;

And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,

Which we have goaded onward.”

Coriolanus Act Three – “How shall this bisson multitude digest the senate's courtesy?”

‘Coriolanus’ Act Three moves back to the Capitol where Coriolanus hears that Aufidius is raising a new army. Coriolanus fears that has raised a new army. Coriolanus worries an attack on Rome by the Volsces is imminent but he is assured that the Vosces can not raise their army again so quickly.

Then tribunes enter and inform all assembled that the citizens of Rome will not accept Coriolanus as a consul. Brutus and Sicinius are accused by Coriolanus of rallying the common citizens against him. Then Coriolanus rails against the common people:

“Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends,

I crave their pardons:

For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them

Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate

The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,

Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd,

and scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number,

Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that

Which they have given to beggars…

As for my country I have shed my blood,

Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs

Coin words till their decay against those measles,

Which we disdain should tatter us, yet sought

The very way to catch them…

O good but most unwise patricians! why,

You grave but reckless senators, have you thus

Given Hydra here to choose an officer,

That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but

The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not spirit

To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,

And make your channel his? If he have power

Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake

Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,

Be not as common fools; if you are not,

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,

If they be senators: and they are no less,

When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste

Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,

And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'

His popular 'shall' against a graver bench

Than ever frown in Greece. By Jove himself!

It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches

To know, when two authorities are up,

Neither supreme, how soon confusion

May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take

The one by the other.”

Then Menenius urges Coriolanus to go to the market and ask for the plebeians to pardon him. Coriolanus is accused of treason by Brutus and Sicinius and they call for Coriolanus to be arrested and eventually they call for him to be executed. Coriolanus draws his sword, and a number of Senators try to help him but they are all swept away by a mob. Coriolanus takes refuge in the house of a senator. Menenius calms the crowd, makes them understand that Coriolanus is a soldier unschooled in rhetoric and he eventually convinces them to let him talk to Coriolanus and bring him before them to later air their dispute with him.

“Consider this: he has been bred i' the wars

Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd

In bolted language; meal and bran together

He throws without distinction. Give me leave,

I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him

Where he shall answer, by a lawful form,

In peace, to his utmost peril…

I'll bring him to you.”

We cross to Coriolanus where he tells a group of Roman nobles that he has no intention of changing his character to suit the desires of the mob. Volumnia comes in and berates him for his belligerence.

“You might have been enough the man you are,

With striving less to be so; lesser had been

The thwartings of your dispositions, if

You had not show'd them how ye were disposed

Ere they lack'd power to cross you.”

Then Menenius arrives and says to Coriolanus that he should take back what he said and then maybe the plebeians might recant and make him into a consul. and their tribunes, and then perhaps they will allow him to be consul. Initially Coriolanus refuses, but eventually his mother convinces him otherwise.

“Pray, be counsell'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,

But yet a brain that leads my use of anger

To better vantage…

You are too absolute;

Though therein you can never be too noble,

But when extremities speak. I have heard you say,

Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,

I' the war do grow together: grant that, and tell me,

In peace what each of them by the other lose,

That they combine not there…If it be honour in your wars to seem

The same you are not, which, for your best ends,

You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse,

That it shall hold companionship in peace

With honour, as in war, since that to both

It stands in like request?

…Now it lies you on to speak

To the people; not by your own instruction,

Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you,

But with such words that are but rooted in

Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables

Of no allowance to your bosom's truth.

Now, this no more dishonours you at all

Than to take in a town with gentle words,

Which else would put you to your fortune and

The hazard of much blood.

I would dissemble with my nature where

My fortunes and my friends at stake required

I should do so in honour: I am in this,

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;

And you will rather show our general louts

How you can frown than spend a fawn upon 'em,

For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard

Of what that want might ruin…

I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said

My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

To have my praise for this, perform a part

Thou hast not done before…let

Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear

Thy dangerous stoutness, for I mock at death

With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list

Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me,

But owe thy pride thyself.”

In the marketplace, Brutus and Sicinius prepare to further sabotage and stir Coriolanus so that he will lose his temper. Coriolanus enters with accompanied by Menenius and Cominius, and announces that he will submit to whatever is the will of the common people. Then Sicinius charges Coriolanus with contriving “to take from Rome all season’d office and to wind yourself (himself) into power tryrannical…” and Coriolanus becomes angry and then attacks the tribunes and the plebeians again. “The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people!

Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune!

Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,

In thy hand clutch'd as many millions, in

Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say

'Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free

As I do pray the gods…

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,

Vagabond exile, raying, pent to linger

But with a grain a day, I would not buy

Their mercy at the price of one fair word;

Nor cheque my courage for what they can give,

To have't with saying 'Good morrow.'”

Sicinius answers back and says that Coriolanus should be banished from Rome and the people agree. Cominius tries to talk and defend Coriolanus but Coriolanus says that he will gladly leave the city:

“You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate

As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize

As the dead carcasses of unburied men

That do corrupt my air, I banish you;

And here remain with your uncertainty!

Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts!

Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,

Fan you into despair! Have the power still

To banish your defenders; till at length

Your ignorance, which finds not till it feels,

Making not reservation of yourselves,

Still your own foes, deliver you as most

Abated captives to some nation

That won you without blows! Despising,

For you, the city, thus I turn my back:

There is a world elsewhere.”

Coriolanus Act Four – “I shall be loved when I am lack’d.”  

Coriolanus says goodbye to his wife, Virgilia, and to his mother, Volumniar and friends before the gates of Rome. Volumnia weeps and curses Rome wishing devastation on all the occupations and trades of Rome for banishing Coriolanus. Cominius offers to go with him for part of the journey but he refuses and exits Rome to another city and another fate.  

Elsewhere in Rome, Brutus and Sicinius see that their work is done and when they see  Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius, they try to avid them. Volumnia's eyes are too sharp and she sees Brutus and Sicinius and rails at them for banishing "...him that struck more blows for Rome than thou has spoken words..." Brutus and Sicinius accuse Volumnia of being mad before they depart and leave others to their loss.

We then cross to another part of Rome where a Roman spy meets a Volscian and they talk about the banishment of Coriolanus and they decide that while Rome is in such turmoil, it would be a good time for Tullus Aufidius and the Volscians to strike back. 

A little while later, Coriolanus enters the city of Antium, where Aufidius is presently residing. In a monologue, Coriolanus reveals that he will now attempt to become an ally with his enemy Aufidius and fight against Rome itself. he finds a citizen who directs him to where Aufidius is staying.

The servants of Aufidius refuse to let Coriolanus in because he is dressed like a peasant. Eventually one servant gets Aufidius who initially does not recognise Coriolanus. Coriolnius reveals who he is and says that he offers himself as an ally to the Volscian and if rejected he says that Aufidius can kill him. Aufidius is overwhelmed but accepts Coriolanus as an ally and says that together they will exact a great revenge on Rome. They eat together and plan their war on Rome.  

All is quiet on the Roman front as Brutus and Sicinius congratulate one another for getting rid of Coriolanus.

“We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;

His remedies are tame i' the present peace

And quietness of the people, which before

Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends

Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,

Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold

Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see

Our tradesmen with in their shops and going

About their functions friendly.”

They brag to Menenius that Rome is better off without Coriolanus. Suddenly a messenger enters bring word that the Volscians are preparing attack Rome. A second messenger confirms this and brings the news that Coriolanus is leading the invasion. Menenius and Cominius accuse the tribunes of putting Rome in tis position and when the plebeians come in on the argument, the two tribunes flee the Capitol fearing for their lives.

We then cross back to Aufidius, who is at a small camp outside of Rome. After his initial emotion, he is starting to have second thoughts about joining forces with Coriolanus since he own soldiers seem to like Coriolanus and respect him. Aufidius thinks that Rome will fall easily to Coriolanus so he begins to scheme ways to eventually dispose of Coriolanus:

“All places yield to him ere he sits down;

And the nobility of Rome are his:

The senators and patricians love him too:

The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people

Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty

To expel him thence. I think he'll be to Rome

As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it

By sovereignty of nature. First he was

A noble servant to them; but he could not

Carry his honours even: whether 'twas pride,

Which out of daily fortune ever taints

The happy man; whether defect of judgment,

To fail in the disposing of those chances

Which he was lord of; or whether nature,

Not to be other than one thing, not moving

From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace

Even with the same austerity and garb

As he controll'd the war; but one of these--

As he hath spices of them all, not all,

For I dare so far free him--made him fear'd,

So hated, and so banish'd: but he has a merit,

To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues

Lie in the interpretation of the time:

And power, unto itself most commendable,

Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair

To extol what it hath done.

One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail;

Rights by rights falter, strengths by strengths do fail.

Come, let's away. When, Caius, Rome is thine,

Thou art poor'st of all; then shortly art thou mine.”

Coriolanus Act Five – “Though in this city he hath widow’d and unchilded many a one… yet he shall have a noble memory.”

We start Act Five of ‘Coriolanus’ in Rome where Menenius and Cominius tell the tribunes Brutus and Sicinius that they believe this crisis which looks like bringing the destruction of Rome is their fault. Brutus and Sicinius convince Mememius to try to talk to Coriolanus and reason with him. Mememius consents:

“I'll undertake 't:

I think he'll hear me. Yet, to bite his lip

And hum at good Cominius, much unhearts me.

He was not taken well; he had not dined:

The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then

We pout upon the morning, are unapt

To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd

These and these conveyances of our blood

With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls

Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him

Till he be dieted to my request,

And then I'll set upon him.”

At the Volscian camp, Menenius arrives and is refused entry. Then Coriolanus arrives and Menenius makes his pleas but Coriolanus rejects Memenius, his own wife and mother and Rome and gives Memenius a letter:

“Wife, mother, child, I know not. My affairs

Are servanted to others: though I owe

My revenge properly, my remission lies

In Volscian breasts. That we have been familiar,

Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison, rather

Than pity note how much. Therefore, be gone.

Mine ears against your suits are stronger than

Your gates against my force. Yet, for I loved thee,

Take this along; I writ it for thy sake (gives a letter)

And would have rent it. Another word, Menenius,

I will not hear thee speak. This man, Aufidius,

Was my beloved in Rome: yet thou behold'st!'”

Coriolanus exits and Aufidius leaves remarking that he himself has lost the will to care anymore and that Coriolanus seems to be steadfast in his own will:

“I neither care for the world nor your general: for

such things as you, I can scarce think there's any,

ye're so slight. He that hath a will to die by

himself fears it not from another: let your general

do his worst. For you, be that you are, long; and

your misery increase with your age! I say to you,

as I was said to, Away!”

Back at his tent, Coriolanus’s fortitude grows:

“We will before the walls of Rome tomorrow

Set down our host. My partner in this action,

You must report to the Volscian lords, how plainly

I have borne this business…

This last old man,

Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome,

Loved me above the measure of a father;

Nay, godded me, indeed. Their latest refuge

Was to send him; for whose old love I have,

Though I show'd sourly to him, once more offer'd

The first conditions, which they did refuse

And cannot now accept; to grace him only

That thought he could do more, a very little

I have yielded to: fresh embassies and suits,

Nor from the state nor private friends, hereafter

Will I lend ear to. Ha! what shout is this?  (shouts within)

Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow

In the same time 'tis made? I will not.”

Suddenly, Coriolanus’s family arrive, Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, and Young Martius, Coriolanus's son. Coriolanus says he will not listen to what they have to say. His mother kneels before him and begs him to make peace. And says that she will physically block him if he tries to enter Rome. Coriolanus eventually relents and decides to attempt to make peace. Aufidius tells the audience at this point that he now has an opportunity to eliminate the Roman general.

In Rome, Menenius tells Sicinius that all is lost and then the news arrives that the women have succeeded and Rome is saved. Volumnia is seen as a hero.

In Antium, Aufidius prepare to kill Coriolanus, who is considered a hero for avoiding war. Coriolanus enters and Aufidius denounces him as a traitor. Coriolanus, loses his temper and curses Aufidius. Aufidius shouts at Coriolanus and then Coriolanus is stabbed and falls down dead. Finally showing some remorse, Aufidius joins his men to carry through the city, the body of Coriolanus:

“My lords, when you shall know--as in this rage,

Provoked by him, you cannot--the great danger

Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice

That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours

To call me to your senate, I'll deliver

Myself your loyal servant, or endure

Your heaviest censure…

My rage is gone;

And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.

Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.

Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:

Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he

Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,

Which to this hour bewail the injury,

Yet he shall have a noble memory. Assist.

(Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead march sounded)”