Coriolanus (Folger Shakespeare Library)

Coriolanus (Folger Shakespeare Library)

Set in the earliest days of the Roman Republic, Coriolanus begins with the common people, or plebeians, in armed revolt against the patricians. The people win the right to be represented by tribunes. Meanwhile, there are foreign enemies near the gates of Rome.

The play explores one reason that Rome prevailed over such vulnerabilities: its reverence for family bonds. Coriolanus so esteems his mother, Volumnia, that he risks his life to win her approval. Even the value of family, however, is subordinate to loyalty to the Roman state. When the two obligations align, the combination is irresistible.

Coriolanus is so devoted to his family and to Rome that he finds the decision to grant the plebians representation intolerable. To him, it elevates plebeians to a status equal with his family and class, to Romeâ‚¬s great disadvantage. He risks his political career to have the tribunate abolishedâ‚¬"and is banished from Rome. Coriolanus then displays an apparently insatiable vengefulness against the state he idolized, opening a tragic divide within himself, pitting him against his mother and family, and threatening Romeâ‚¬s very existence.

The authoritative edition of Coriolanus from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:

-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the playâ‚¬s famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeareâ‚¬s language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Libraryâ‚¬s vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading

Essay by Heather James

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the worldâ‚¬s largest collection of Shakespeareâ‚¬s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.
Country USA
Brand Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer Simon & Schuster
Binding Mass Market Paperback
ItemPartNumber 9780671722586
ReleaseDate 2009-09-08
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780671722586

Country	USA
Brand	Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer	Simon & Schuster
Binding	Mass Market Paperback
ItemPartNumber	9780671722586
ReleaseDate	2009-09-08
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780671722586

Coriolanus (Folger Shakespeare Library)

You might also like...