Next
Act 1, Scene 1
Shakespeare bases his historical tragedy on the story of Martius--nicknamed “Coriolanus” for his courage in battle. Coriolanus follows the eponymous character as he tries (and fails) to gain political power through allegiances to the common people whom he once hated, and his longstanding rivalry with his enemy Aufidius--a rivalry that will prove deadly by the play’s end. With this Shakescleare modern English translation of the play, you can follow the twists and turns of Coriolanus’ fortunes, and make contact with some of its most famous quotes, like “action is eloquence” and “O world, thy slippery turns!”