Coriolanus
📘 About This Book
William Shakespeare: Coriolanus Erstmals ins Deutsche übersetzt von Johann Joachim Eschenburg (1777). Die vorliegende Übersetzung stammt von Dorothea Tieck. Erstdruck in: Shakspeare's dramatische Werke. Übersetzt von August Wilhelm Schlegel. Ergänzt und erläutert von Ludwig Tieck, Bd. 5, Berlin (Georg Andreas Reimer) 1831. Vollständige Neuausgabe. Herausgegeben von Karl-Maria Guth. Berlin 2013. Textgrundlage ist die Ausgabe: William Shakespeare: Sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden. Band 4, Herausgegeben von Anselm Schlösser. Berlin: Aufbau, 1975. Die Paginierung obiger Ausgabe wird in dieser Neuausgabe als Marginalie zeilengenau mitgeführt. Umschlaggestaltung von Thomas Schultz-Overhage unter Verwendung des Bildes: Thomas Lawrence, Kemble als Coriolanus, 1798. Gesetzt aus Minion Pro, 11 pt.
📖 Summary
William Shakespeare's Coriolanus is a gripping political tragedy that follows the rise and fall of Caius Martius, a brilliant and ruthless Roman general who earns the surname 'Coriolanus' after heroically defeating the Volscian army at Corioli. Despite his unmatched military prowess, Coriolanus possesses a fatal flaw: absolute disdain for the common people of Rome and an utter inability to play the political games required to win their favor. Urged by his ambitious mother, Volumnia, and senior senators, Coriolanus reluctantly runs for the office of consul. However, his profound arrogance and refusal to flatter the plebeians lead to widespread public outrage. Manipulated by scheming tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus, the angry mob turns against him, branding him a traitor to the republic. Rather than softening his stance, Coriolanus responds with fierce defiance, prompting the Roman senate to banish him from the city. Driven by a bitter desire for revenge, Coriolanus seeks out his former enemy, Tullus Aufidius, leader of the Volscians. He offers his sword to the enemy camp, leading a devastating Volscian invasion directly toward the gates of Rome. As the city faces imminent destruction, a desperate delegation of Roman citizens, led by Coriolanus's wife Virgilia and his formidable mother Volumnia, pleads with him to spare his homeland. Moved by his mother's emotional appeal, Coriolanus grants mercy and agrees to negotiate a peace treaty. This ultimate act of compromise seals his doom, as the treacherous Aufidius accuses him of treason and betrays him, leading to Coriolanus's assassination by Volscian lords. Through this powerful narrative, Shakespeare explores the turbulent clash between aristocratic pride and populist democracy, the psychology of political manipulation, and the tragic consequences of inflexible honor in a shifting world.
🎯 Key Lessons
💬 Notable Quotes
"He that depends upon your favours swims with fins of lead and hews down oaks with rushes."
"I banish you! / Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! / Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, / Fan you into despair!"
"Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink."
"My mind gave me / Suspecting fault, long since, that you hunt for / Friendships which you shall parse hereafter."
"Action is eloquence, and the opinion of the more ignorant is as the muffled drum."
"I muse my mother / Does not approve me further, who was wont / To call them woollen vassals, things created / To buy and sell with groats."
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Masterful exploration of political psychology and class struggle
Intense, fast-paced dramatic conflict with brilliant battle scenes
Complex, morally ambiguous characters that challenge audience sympathy
⚠️ Cons
Lack of a purely sympathetic protagonist makes emotional connection difficult
Dense Elizabethan language can present a significant reading barrier
✍️ About the Author
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright and poet widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. His works include tragedies like 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth', comedies like 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and 154 sonnets.
View all books →❓ FAQ
Is this book worth reading? +
Yes, it is one of Shakespeare's most politically astute and psychologically complex tragedies, offering profound insights into populism and pride.
How long does it take to read? +
As a standard Shakespearean play, it typically takes about 2 to 3 hours to read or perform in full.
What is the main message? +
The play demonstrates how rigid pride, contempt for the populace, and unyielding vengeance lead inevitably to ruin.
