The Shakespeare Book

302

I

n Rome, a mob of plebeians

gather to discuss with each

other their grievances with

the patricians, who they believe

are hoarding grain during a time

of famine. Having resolved to kill

Caius Martius, thought to be the

worst of the patricians because

of his pride and arrogance, the

plebeians are calmed by Menenius,

who suggests that they reconsider.

Caius Martius returns covered

in blood from a battle with the

Volscian army, and his mother,

Volumnia, revels in her son’s honor

and courage. Caius is rewarded

CORIOLANUS

with the title “Coriolanus.” Two

tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus, fear

that he will be promoted into a

position of political power. As the

tribunes feared, the Senate decides

to make Coriolanus a consul, but in

order to assume this role he must

first receive the plebeians’ vote.

Coriolanus is reluctant to pander

to the people and show them the

scars they wish to see, but is

persuaded to do so by his mother.

Although the people give him

their voices, the tribunes Sicinius

and Brutus persuade them to

change their minds.

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Caius Martius A fearsome

Roman general and proud

patrician. He is honored with

the surname “Coriolanus” for

acts of bravery in battle.

Menenius A Roman patrician

who advises Coriolanus. He

also attempts to calm the

rioting citizens of Rome.

Volumnia Coriolanus’s

mother, who raised her son to

be a warrior and delights in

his prowess on the battlefield.

Virgilia Coriolanus’s wife.

She accompanies Volumnia

and her own son to plead

forgiveness when Coriolanus

threatens to destroy Rome.

Cominius A Roman general

and consul, who proposes

the title “Coriolanus” for

Caius Martius.

Titus Lartius A Roman

patrician and admirer of

Coriolanus, who is appointed

a general.

Sicinius and Brutus

Two tribunes who ensure

Coriolanus’s unpopularity

among the plebeians, and

mastermind his banishment

from Rome.

Aufidius General of the

Volscian army and Coriolanus’s

great enemy and respected

rival. He wins Coriolanus’s

respect on the battlefield,

but ultimately destroys him.

Roman plebeians Rioting

citizens angered by the

patricians’ misgovernment.

1.3

2.1

1.1

1.2

2.1

Caius Martius

returns victorious from

battle, and is

honored.

A rioting mob of

plebeians revolt against

the patricians and call for

Caius Martius’s death.

The Volscian

army, under

their leader

Aufidius,

prepares to

attack Rome.

Volumnia persuades

her son to address the

plebeians and seek

their vote.

Coriolanus is

made a consul.

Act 1 Act 2