Reviews

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare

feistyflamingo's review against another edition

dark funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

4.0

tanemariacris's review against another edition

4.0

I'm profoundly grateful to Josie Rourke who directed a gut-wrenching and honest stage performance of Coriolanus, reviving this old, yet timeless Shakespearean play that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Were it not for her, I might not have come across this brilliant story that so grippingly and astutely reveals the discrepancies found inside a man who is a great soldier, yet a terrible politician with proto-fascist ideals; arrogant in his privileges and status, yet possessing an inner modesty; hot-tempered, His heart's his mouth, with only his mother's words to quench his fire; pure and stained all the same. With this man of contradictions in its center, always present, even when he doesn't directly takes part in a scene, the play reaffirms the importance of listenting to the people, to their needs and grievances, instead of undermining their voices, while holding tight to some individual comfort and rank.

With messages as relevant now as they were 400 years ago, Coriolanus is a treat both in terms of the depth and ideas conveyed, and through its capacity of being utterly enjoyable and exciting.

mjones14's review

adventurous challenging sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Quite enjoyed this one. I love the contrast between democracy and war, and I think the role of the women is a really interesting one. Very relevant in a 21st C setting 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Death, Murder, War, and Violence

achilleanshelves's review against another edition

3.0

Coriolanus was such an interesting character that no doubt inspired or at least influenced the tortured-villain/ fallen angel trope.

evieeee's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

Politics. Duty. Honour. Hegemonic masculinity. Femininity. Rivalry. Conspiracy. Death. All very good themes which make a very good play.

jameskeates's review against another edition

3.0

Coriolanus is interesting as the soldier who can't cope with civilian political life; his pride is his fault as Othello's is jealousy or Macbeth's is ambition. However, somehow his stubborn snobbishness against the lower orders is less relatable and his pushy mother less rounded than, say, Lady Macbeth. Enjoyable enough, but just not as memorable in language or plot as the great tragedies.

on_auguries's review

challenging reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

krobart's review

3.0

See my review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/coriolanus/

dasnook_arts's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5