Shakespeare's Coriolanus--Discussion and Summary

I talk about Shakespeare's Coriolanus--a seldom performed tragedy about leadership and politics.
See below for links to other Shakespeare discussions:
Twelfth Night: January 2-8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZXEkKabnNFpmtE​
Henry VI Part 1: January 10-16 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4usY42FmN1lfLc​
Henry VI Part 2: January 18-25 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5mrnHmij9Scqrc​
Henry VI Part 3: January 27-February 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3iTXmdjfrasZ5Y​
Comedy of Errors: February 4-8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eajGp4yOnJqLn7s​
Taming of the Shrew: February 10-15 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4PZd3mggbWUgrs​
Titus Andronicus: February 17-22 kzbin.info/www/bejne/maXFnpulh9Cceqs​
Romeo and Juliet: February 24-March 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4a1c6mvhtagY5I​
kzbin.info/www/bejne/paibaah7j8x_o5Y​
Richard III: March 4-12 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYiwgZegrLZqra8
Julius Caesar: March 14-19 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap2neKNmrqiibbM​
Two Gentlemen of Verona: March 21-25 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWiupH2gocyUl5o​
King John: March 27-April 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqmmZnufmKtomrc​
Richard II: April 3-9 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZSThYuNnN2lfZY​
Venus and Adonis: April 13-17 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIaXo2iHmZV7qqc​
Hamlet: April 19-28 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmLSXoyPjp53ac0​
The Rape of Lucrece: April 30-May 4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5rIdJSHar52pac​
Sonnets 1-80: May 6-8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZLFdYeIpcpnd80​
Bonus Episode! Sir Thomas More: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKXLomakf9iKnpY​
Othello: May 11-18 kzbin.info/www/bejne/maPUpYeYf7uSnc0​
Sonnets 81-154: May 20-22 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZLFdYeIpcpnd80​
Love’s Labour’s Lost: May 26-June 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGLVoodvg86Slck​
Pericles: June 4-9 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoXQh2amo7yMi8k​
Cymbeline: June 11-18 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoeXkGmpo7F6oas​
King Lear: June 22-30 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn7WhnugmZeNqK8​
A Lover’s Complaint: July 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4KmiZd_Z9Bkras​
The Passionate Pilgrim: July 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWGyiqOlZa6pgs0​
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: July 6-10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKjGfqqpfaypaNU​
The Merchant of Venice: July 12-16 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHisoaWVh9efY5I​
Bonus Episode! Love's Labour's Won: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKnOYoCpr5mAb6c​
Much Ado About Nothing: July 20-26 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3atioZ6Z6ygidU​
As You Like It: July 28-August 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn6vmWlroqacd5o​
Macbeth: August 5-10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWfbda2VaLyKec0​
Troilus and Cressida: August 12-20 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q53dq4mYiLyro9E​
Antony and Cleopatra: August 22-29 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3zciGV8ppl0jqc
Coriolanus: August 31-September 10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIK3pZmJfMh5nJI
All’s Well That Ends Well: September 12-19 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH6uYYurfp6gfZI
Measure for Measure: September 21-27 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jniQnYqgfbp5i5I
Henry IV Part 1: September 29-October 5 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGfSnqR9aNFkf8k
The Merry Wives of Windsor: October 7-13
Henry IV Part 2: October 15-22
Henry V: October 24-31
Henry VIII: November 2-9
Edward III: November 11-17
Timon of Athens: November 19-24
The Winter’s Tale: December 1-7 kzbin.info/www/bejne/el7Ik42ZltR1l8k
kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobRlmydqp1od6c
The Tempest: December 9-14 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5rLk5qkacdkmZo​
The Two Noble Kinsmen: December 16-23
The Phoenix and Turtle: December 27 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIfZeKqwj9uEntk
Cardenio: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eITCd6GAgLmLgas

[@hahahr8707]

my teacher put one of your videos on her course for her students to watch and i just want to say after looking at your channel, the way you talk about books is very entertaining and you even make discussing shakespeare for thirty minutes interesting! youre a cool dude and i appreciate your work

[@Nancenotes]

You’re very kind! Thank you! I’m glad the videos were helpful.

[@greggw.brevoort]

I just LOVE this play! And your summary of it was excellent - really captures the drama, the excitement and the political intrigue. And while this play doesn't have all the interior moments of the other tragedies, via soliloquies, etc., there IS an awful lot of psychology at play here. Everyone thinks that the Hamlet/Gertrude relationship is complicated and ... Freudian. Well, they haven't met Volumnia! Their relationship is extraordinarily complex. I also tend to be in the camp that the Coriolanus/Aufidius relationship is deeply rooted in extreme issues of repression and suppression. He 'goes to the other side,' ("There is a world elsewhere") a side he never had been given space to explore or even understand, in an attempt to find his true self now that every ounce of his identity has been stripped of him. Again, extraordinarily complex psychologically (Aufidius welcomes him as like a "bride on my wedding night." Enough said). Great re-cap. I'm a huge fan of your channel!

[@sylviabowersox1114]

Dude, you are the champion. Your explanation convinced my husband to watch Coriolanus with me. Hurray for our side!!!

[@Nancenotes]

Excellent!

[@Jason-oq9om]

Coriolanus does not despise the people. He loves them purly. He despises the manner in which they demand he show his love for them. Then entire play for me is summed up: He returns from battle in defense of the people and they demand he undress before them (to see his scars). He does not undress before them to show him his scars - (he is insulted greatly by their demands), yet goes straight away to dress again in his armor, to surely be scared again, as he has, again and again, in their defense. This is how he shows his love. By standing for the people no matter their squabbling, not bowing before their squabbling. This is the real tragedy: and that popular culture would think to agree with the squabblers: this is the tragedy of Shakespeare in our time.

[@casper1754]

great video :) i'm seeing this play today!! (national theatre, uk) so excited

[@larib0t]

Thank you so much for this passionate review. I have an exam in 12 hours and this really helps!

[@Nancenotes]

Good luck!

[@SeanMillea]

I'm trying to read all the plays. I'm on 26 (Coriolanus) and your videos are super helpful!

[@Nancenotes]

Excellent and admirable goal! I wish you well! I’m glad I can help!

[@quicklit5413]

Thank you for your summaries. They are always so thorough, clear, and extremely helpful.

[@dohaaymoon4096]

thank you very much teacter tim, every man named tim are always great teachers

[@SPQRIUS]

Clearly, a republic, not a democracy, is the better choice - trust me. Well done, and thank you for this wonderful summary. Have been enjoying all your videos, quite by accident. Such enthusiasm is greatly appreciated.

[@jasminekrikor]

this video helped me prepare for a lesson a lot thank you

[@NicoleMartin2011]

Hi Mr. Nance it’s Nicole Martin. I went to high school in your English IB classes back in 2011! I have a quick question about novels/books and publishing. I was wondering what the best way to contact you would be? Thanks!

[@Nancenotes]

Hey Nicole! I hope your health is well! I’d love to talk to you. You can email me at [e-mail]

[@renate8290]

Thank you

[@jasminehutchings4770]

I can't find your Edward 3rd talk. Has it been taken down? :(

[@Nancenotes]

No, sorry! It’s unfinished and not yet loaded up!

[@jasminehutchings4770]

@@Nancenotes Ah brilliant! Just wanted to say thank you for doing these. I really struggle with Dyslexcia, so watching these really helps me with my course.

[@Nancenotes]

Glad I can help!

[@justinfalzon6854]

at (21:18) when Coriolanus comes back to the marketplace; he wasn't immediately accused of treason out the gate. The agreement was he was stand trial for 'x' and 'y', but rat-finked him again and added 'z' (the treason). Which was what they made the agreement about in the first place he wasn't on trial for. They're such scheming insurrectionists willing to kill a hero to keep their authority.

[@clairesstitchingcorner8910]

Is there a Henry VIII video ? Can't seem to find it

[@Nancenotes]

I did the prep work, but got caught up in the start of the school year and delayed. I hope to do it soon, but I’ve been focusing on school for the past few weeks. Do you need it right away? I can probably get one done during the next week if I prioritize it.

[@justinfalzon6854]

That is the way to lay the city flat, To bring the roof to the foundation And bury all which yet distinctly ranges In heaps and piles of ruin.

[@patrickskramstad1485]

2:47

[@frida3218]

you literally saved me loo

[@justinfalzon6854]

whoa whoa whoa. (11:00) minutes in when you are talking about the man who Coriolanus forgot the name of, its because of what wrath and adrenaline does to the brain in those moments. I base that off of personal experience and anecdotal evidence (I'll explain in a sec). It is Shakespeare's genius in my opinion, and rather goes to show you Martius' empathy and heart is with good people- and that his distain for the masses is because they're vulgar and insipid. Anecdotal video evidence: Chris Langan is the man with the highest recorded IQ in the world but lived somewhat of an unconventional life. He was a bouncer in NY for a while. I distinctly recall him talking about how adrenaline does that to the mind (wipes it). He recalls being at work and just minding his own business thinking his thoughts, and he was onto something and decided to start writing it down on a napkin. While he was doing that, a fight broke out and he had to go do his job. He left the napkin and couldn't find it after. For the life of him he doesn't even remember what he was thinking about. He talks about it in an interview. Point being. Shakespeare was conveying Coriolanus was resting with this guy who gave him sanctuary during the battle, appreciated his kindness, but forgot the guys name because when he saw Aufidius he went primal. He means well but he wasn't there to make friends and it wasnt important to his mission. Shakespeare is a genius and knows what would happen to a man in that situation. He's not remembering the name.

[@Nancenotes]

Cool! Thanks for the explanation!

[@patrickskramstad1485]

4:12

[@justinfalzon6854]

I'm pretty sure his mother said if you're going to go ahead and burn the city, to kill her first because she can't root for her son attacking her city and home, and can't root for her neighbors to kill her son. Either side wins she loses, so put her out of her misery. She didn't so much as ASK him to let go as throw herself in front of the tank treads knowing he would stop. But she did flamboyantly and he's haughty and puts his mom on a pedestal. He was like, "aaaagh mom da fuq you doing here and in the mud'. Metaphorically. and Literally I think she bowed in the dirt with the wife n son (that's what I mean by flamboyantly). He was like, 'God damn mom, 😭I didn't realize I'm putting you in this position. You totally just killed me, but go ahead and take the family and go home.'

[@patrickskramstad1485]

2:10