41. Lucy Munro, "Coriolanus and William Poel's Platform Stage," in Shakespeare in Stages, ed. Christine Dymkowski and Christie Carson (2010), p. 50.
42. Wilhelm Hortmann, Shakespeare on the German Stage (1998), p. 149.
43. Birmingham Mail, 10 May 1939.
44. The Times, London, 10 May 1939.
45. Daily Telegraph and Morning Post, 10 May 1939.
46. Daily Herald, 14 March 1952.
47. Daily Herald, 14 March 1952.
48. Sunday Times, 28 February 1954.
49. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 284.
50. Lewis Casson, quoted in Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 274.
51. Daily Express, 8 July 1959.
52. Lawrence Guntner, "Shakespeare on the East German Stage," in Foreign Shakespeare, ed. Dennis Kennedy (1993), pp. 110-11.
53. Keith Gregor, Shakespeare in the Spanish Theatre 1772 to the Present (2010), p. 139.
54. Theater heute, 23 September 1970.
55. Kristina Bedford, Coriolanus at the National: "Th'Interpretation of the Time" (1992), p. 117.
56. Quoted in Hortmann, Shakespeare on the German Stage, p. 457.
57. Sunday Telegraph, 14 April 1991.
58. Guardian, 28 November 1990.
59. Sunday Times, 21 May 1995.
60. Mail on Sunday, 18 June 2000.
61. The Times, London, 29 March 2001.
62. Gregor, Shakespeare in the Spanish Theatre, p. 145.
63. Mary Steible, Coriolanus: A Guide to the Play (2004), p. 132.
64. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 315.
65. Milton Shulman, Evening Standard, 13 April 1967.
66. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 316.
67. Peter Lewis, Daily Mail, 13 April 1967.
68. Frank Marcus, Sunday Telegraph, 16 April 1972.
69. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 317.
70. John Mortimer, Observer, 16 April 1972.
71. Peter Thomson, "No Rome of Safety: The Royal Shakespeare Season 1972 Reviewed," Shakespeare Survey 26 (1973), pp. 139-50 (pp. 143-44).
72. Jean Vache, Cahiers Elisabethains, No. 14 (1978), p. 111.
73. Terry Hands in an interview with John Higgins, The Times, London, 19 October 1977.
74. Irving Wardle, The Times, London, 22 October 1977.
75. Carol A. Chillington, Review of Coriolanus in Educational Theatre Journal, Vol. 30, No. 2 (May 1978), pp. 258-59 (p. 258).
76. Peter Holland, Shakespeare Survey 44 (1992), p. 163.
77. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 324.
78. Holland, Shakespeare Survey 44, p. 164, quoted in Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, pp. 324-25.
79. Russell Jackson, Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 46 (1995), p. 345.
80. Holland, Shakespeare Survey 44, p. 215.
81. Holland, Shakespeare Survey 44, pp. 215-16.
82. Jackson, Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 46, p. 345.
83. Jackson, Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 46, p. 345.
84. Russell Jackson, "Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon: Summer and Winter, 2002-2003," Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 54 (2003), pp. 167-85 (p. 183).
85. Benedict Nightingale, The Times, London, 28 November 2002.
86. Jackson, "Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon," p. 184.
87. Philippa Prankard, Stratford Herald, 8 March 2007.
88. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 316.
89. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 314.
90. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 314.
91. Ripley, Coriolanus on Stage in England and America, p. 314.
92. John Barton, Program Notes, RSC Coriolanus, 1967.
93. Alan Brien, Sunday Telegraph, 16 April 1967.
94. Peter Lewis, Daily Mail, 13 April 1967.
95. Irving Wardle, The Times, London, 13 April 1967.
96. John Barber, Daily Telegraph, 12 April 1972.
97. John Mortimer, Observer, 16 April 1972.
98. Thomson, "No Rome of Safety," p. 143.
99. Irving Wardle, The Times, London, 22 October 1977.
100. Chillington, Review of Coriolanus, pp. 258-59.
101. Peter Holland, Shakespeare Survey 44, pp. 164-65.
102. Jackson, Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 46, pp. 346-47.
103. John Peter, Sunday Times, 1 December 2002.
104. Benedict Nightingale, The Times, London, 28 November 2002.
105. Paul Taylor, Independent Review, 4 December 2002.
106. Robert Hanks, Independent, 8 March 2007.
107. Michael Billington, Guardian, 8 March 2007.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND
PICTURE CREDITS
Preparation of "Coriolanus in Performance" was assisted by a generous grant from the CAPITAL Centre (Creativity and Performance in Teaching and Learning) of the University of Warwick for research in the RSC archive at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
The second half of the introduction ("From Mob to Mother: The Critics Debate") draws extensively on a longer overview of the play's critical history prepared for us by Sarah Carter.
Thanks as always to our indefatigable and eagle-eyed copy editor Tracey Day and to Ray Addicott for overseeing the production process with rigor and calmness.
Picture research by Michelle Morton. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for assistance with picture research (special thanks to Helen Hargest) and reproduction fees.
Images of RSC productions are supplied by the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive, Stratford-upon-Avon. This library, maintained by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, holds the most important collection of Shakespeare material in the UK, including the Royal Shakespeare Company's official archive. It is open to the public free of charge.
For more information see www.shakespeare.org.uk.
1. Frank Benson as Coriolanus (1893). Reproduced by permission of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 2. Directed by Peter Hall (1959). Angus McBean (c) Royal Shakespeare Company 3. Directed by Trevor Nunn (1972). Joe Cocks Studio Collection (c) Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 4. Directed by David Thacker (1994). Malcolm Davies (c) Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 5. Directed by John Barton (1967). Tom Holte (c) Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 6. Directed by Terry Hands (1977). Joe Cocks Studio Collection (c) Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 7. Directed by Gregory Doran (2007). Simon Annand (c) Royal Shakespeare Company 8. Directed by David Farr (2002). Malcolm Davies (c) Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 9. Reconstructed Elizabethan Playhouse (c) Charcoalblue
THE MODERN LIBRARY EDITORIAL BOARD
Maya Angelou
*
A. S. Byatt
*
Caleb Carr
*
Christopher Cerf
*
Harold Evans
*
Charles Frazier
*
Vartan Gregorian
*
Jessica Hagedorn
*
Richard Howard
*
Charles Johnson
*
Jon Krakauer
*
Edmund Morris
*
Azar Nafisi
*
Joyce Carol Oates
*
Elaine Pagels
*
John Richardson
*
Salman Rushdie
*
Oliver Sacks
*
Carolyn See
*
Gore Vidal
1.1 Location: Rome (a public place)
3 famish starve
9 verdict agreed decision
10 on't i.e. about it
12 poor impoverished (playing on the sense of "bad, unworthy") 12 patricians members of the noble families of Rome from whom senators and consuls were chosen 13 good wealthy, well-to
-do (playing on the sense of "worthy") 13 authority those in power, i.e. the patricians 13 surfeits on is overfed on, overindulges in
14 but the superfluity merely the excess
14 wholesome nutritious, good, restorative
15 guess believe, judge
16 dear costly
16 object sight
17 inventory ... abundance detailed account that enables them to itemize their own wealth through contrast 18 sufferance suffering
19 pikes long-handled weapon topped with a spearhead 19 ere before
19 rakes i.e. very thin
23 dog i.e. cruel, pitiless
23 commonalty common people
30 famously gloriously, in a manner that gained him fame 31 to that end i.e. in order to achieve fame 31 soft-conscienced weak-minded
33 to ... proud i.e. partly out of pride
33 even ... virtue i.e. he is just as proud as he is courageous 37 If even if
38 tire in repetition exhaust the speaker in recounting them 39 risen in revolt
40 prating chattering
40 th'Capitol Capitoline Hill, site of the temple of Jupiter; used in the play as the location of the senate house 42 Soft wait a moment
47 bats cudgels
47 matter matter in hand/reason
50 suitors petitioners
51 strong strong-smelling (sense then shifts to "powerful") 52 masters sirs
53 undo ruin
56 For as for
57 dearth scarcity, famine
58 staves staffs used as weapons
59 on continue on
60 curbs restraints (literally, chain passed under a horse's jaw) 62 your impediment any obstacle you can present
64 knees i.e. in prayer
64 arms weapons (playing on the sense of "limbs") 65 transported carried away
66 attends awaits
67 helms helmsmen, i.e. guides (possibly plays on the sense of "protective helmets") 69 True, indeed either spoken ironically or "indeed, as a matter of fact"
70 Suffer allow (plays on the sense of "inflict pain on") 71 for i.e. allowing
71 usury money lending (often at very high rates of interest) 71 usurers moneylenders
73 piercing oppressive, severe
77 wondrous extraordinarily
79 pretty apt
81 stale't make it stale, wear it out
83 disgrace misfortune/injury
83 an't if it
83 deliver tell (the tale)
88 cupboarding hoarding
88 viand food
89 Like equal
89 instruments functioning body parts, organs
90 devise think
91 participate participating
92 affection desires, inclination
96 ne'er ... lungs i.e. was not hearty and genuine 96 thus Menenius imitates the smile, either with his mouth or with his belly (perhaps by belching) 100 his receipt what he received
100 even ... fitly just as aptly, fittingly (said in irony) 101 for that because
107 muniments provisions/defenses, fortifications 108 fabric building, structure (i.e. body)
109 Fore me before me (oath)
109 speaks i.e. talks a lot
110 cormorant greedy (like the seabird)
111 sink sewer
113 former previously named
116 small i.e. small quantity
117 you'st you shall
120 Your i.e. this
120 grave serious, dignified
122 incorporate united in one body
123 general belonging to everyone
128 court plays on the Latin cor ("heart") and on "core" ("inmost part") 129 cranks winding passages
129 offices parts of the house used by servants (kitchen etc.) 130 nerves sinews
131 competency means of life
133 mark pay attention, listen to
137 make ... up compile my account, balance my records 138 flour i.e. finest quality meal of wheat or other grain, plays on "flower" (the best part) 139 bran husks (separated from flour after grinding), i.e. inedible part 143 digest interpret, understand (plays on the bodily sense) 144 weal o'th'common public welfare
152 rascal rogue/one of low birth/(hunting) dog
152 worst in blood least lively, in poorest condition (hunting term)/most ill-bred 153 vantage (individual) advantage
156 The one side one side or the other
156 bale misfortune
157 dissentious quarrelsome, rebellious
159 scabs sores/contemptible rogues
160 ever always
162 abhorring contempt
162 curs dogs
163 nor neither
163 The one i.e. war
164 proud arrogant, self-important
165 hares i.e. timid
166 foxes i.e. clever, cunning
166 geese i.e. foolish
166 surer more reliable
168 virtue particular ability
170 Who whoever
171 Deserves earns, acquires
171 affections desires, inclinations
173 evil sickness
175 rushes flimsy reeds
177 now just now, recently
178 garland hero (deserving of a wreath of victory) 179 several various
181 which else who otherwise
182 seeking request/demand
188 side takes sides in
188 give out report
189 marriages political alliances
190 feebling weakening
191 cobbled patched, roughly mended
192 ruth compassion, pity
193 quarry pile of dead bodies (hunting term)
194 quartered mutilated, cut into quarters
195 pick pitch, throw
198 passing surpassingly, excessively
201 an-hungry hungry (Martius mocks the people's unsophisticated speech) 202 dogs even dogs
203 meat food
204 shreds scraps (of reasoning)
207 generosity the nobles
209 As as if
210 shouting their emulation each competing to shout the loudest/shouting in ambitious triumph 212 tribunes officials appointed to protect the interests and rights of the people 212 vulgar common, public, plebeian
214 'Sdeath by God's death (common oath)
217 Win upon power gain the advantage over those in power 217 themes subjects/arguments
218 For insurrection's arguing to justify rebellion 220 fragments insignificant beings (literally, scraps of food) 224 vent get rid of/excrete or urinate
225 musty superfluity moldy excess, i.e. the troublesome citizens (imaged as stale goods or as bodily waste matter) 226 that what
229 to't i.e. to the test
233 together i.e. against each other
234 by th'ears fighting
235 party side
236 with i.e. against
239 Attend upon serve under, follow
242 constant unchanging, true to my word
244 stiff reluctant/stiff with age/rendered incapable by injury 244 Stand'st out? Will you not fight?
247 Ere in preference to
249 Your i.e. may I have your
250 attend await
253 Right ... priority you deserve to go first
258 Worshipful esteemed (sarcastic)
259 puts well forth develops well, is promising (mocking) 265 moved roused, angered
265 spare to gird refrain from mocking
266 modest chaste (the moon was associated with Diana, Roman goddess of chastity) 267 The may the
270 Tickled with pleased by/excited by/provoked, urged on by 271 noon suggestive of the height of success, when shadows are smallest (but later grow) 272 insolence haughty pride
272 brook bear
277 miscarries fails
279 giddy censure fickle (public) opinion
283 Opinion the reputation/public opinion
284 demerits deserts
286 are be
long
289 aught anything
291 dispatch settlement of affairs
292 More ... singularity his individual qualities aside/with even greater self-importance 293 action military enterprise
294 along go
1.2 Location: Corioli (also known as Corioles)
2 entered in acquainted with counsels opinions/plans/secrets 6 ere before
7 circumvention a chance to outwit (the plan)
10 pressed a power raised an army
14 of by
16 preparation equipped military force
17 Whither wherever bent directed
19 field battlefield
20 made doubt but doubted that
23 pretences plans
24 needs necessarily
26 shortened curtailed
27 take in capture
30 hie hurry bands troops
32 set down before's besiege us remove removal, lifting (of the siege) 37 parcels parts, sections power army forth out, on the move 38 only hitherward march only in our direction
40 ever ceaselessly, constantly
1.3 Location: Martius' house, Rome
2 comfortable cheerful
2 sort manner
3 freelier more freely
5 tender-bodied young
6 comeliness good looks
9 become befit, suit
9 person character/physical appearance
10 picture-like ... th'wall i.e. purely ornamental 10 renown (desire for) honor
11 like likely
13 oak a garland of oak leaves, signifying that he had saved the life of a fellow Roman citizen 15 now i.e. at that time
18 issue offspring
21 voluptuously surfeit live in luxurious, sensual excess 24 give ... myself permit me to withdraw
26 hither from here/coming this way
27 See i.e. I imagine I see
30 got begot, conceived
32 mailed armored
33 tasked employed
33 mow Or either mow
34 hire fee
35 Jupiter Roman supreme god
37 gilt his trophy than a covering of gold befits the monument to his victory 37 Hecuba Queen of Troy and mother of
38 Hector, who led the Trojan army
40 contemning in scorn
41 fit ready, in a proper state
42 bless i.e. protect
42 fell fierce, cruel
Usher male attendant who walked before a person of rank
48 manifest housekeepers clearly engaged in domestic affairs 49 spot piece of embroidery
54 O'my on my
55 troth faith
55 half ... together for a full half hour
56 he's he has
56 confirmed determined
58 after i.e. ran after
59 or whether whether
60 set clench
61 warrant assure you
61 mammocked tore to pieces
62 on's of his
63 la exclamation used for emphasis
64 crack little rascal
66 housewife may play on the sense of "hussy, worthless woman"
67 out go out
72 Fie expression of reproach
73 lies in is due to have a baby soon
77 want lack
78 Penelope faithful wife of Ulysses, king of Ithaca; while he was away fighting in the Trojan wars, she deterred her suitors by insisting that she had to finish weaving her father-in-law's shroud, which she then unpicked every night 80 would wish