History Theatre / Coriolanus

A film version was made in 2011, directed by Ralph Fiennes who also played the lead. GerardButler played Aufidius, with Vanessa Redgrave (in a highly acclaimed performance) as Volumnia and Brian Cox as Menenius. It's a SettingUpdate into a generic CrapsackWorld "Calling itself Rome" (though filmed in Belgrade, Serbia). The film was largely acclaimed for being able to successfully please both Shakespeare purists and action movie junkies.

* LargeHam: Coriolnaus in the 2011 movie.

* GrayAndGrayMorality: Coriolanus' total contempt for the common people is clearly shown to be a serious fault, but he makes some good points (see DemocracyIsBad above) and the two men who claim to be "voices of the people" are described, as [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitious]] by [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Menenius]].

* [[spoiler: DeathByAdaptation: In the 2011 film, Menenius kills himself shortly after Coriolanus rejects his offer for peace.]]

* BerserkButton: Coriolanus can, with some effort, hold on to his temper when he has to, but not when someone calls him a traitor.

* HypocriticalHumor

* TheRival

Caius Martius is a Roman general; brilliant but arrogant and contemptuous of the ordinary folk. When we meet him at the start of the play, there are food riots going on in Rome and Caius Martius is being blamed for taking the grain supplies for the army. While others try and calm the situation, Marcus simply retorts that the commoners aren't worthy of having the grain as they have not done military service.

After defeating the army of the Volsces tribe and capturing the city of Corioles, Marcus is given the name "Coriolanus" as a reward, and is persuaded to run for Consul. However, two of his opponents conspire to whip up the commons against him and he is hounded out of Rome after making a bitter speech about the evils of democracy.

* FoeYay: Canon, and in spades.
** [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19245_the-6-most-wtf-moments-from-shakespeare-plays_p2.html This]] {{Cracked}} article pretty much points it all out.
** In the 2011 adaptation, the way that Aufidius looks at Martius--especially when he's [[spoiler:cradling his dead body in his arms]]--screams this trope at the top of its metaphorical lungs.

* DemocracyIsBad: Sort of. Even though Coriolanus is clearly not meant to be seen as absolutely correct, his points about how the common people are extremely fickle and gullible and demand a say in government despite knowing absolutely nothing about it [[YourMileageMayVary are arguably quite valid]].

* GrayAndGrayMorality: Coriolanus' total contempt for the common people is clearly shown to be a serious fault, but he makes some good points (see DemocracyIsBad above) and the two men who claim to be "voices of the people" are described ([[YourMileageMayVary possibly quite correctly]],) as [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitious]] by [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Menenius]].

* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Seems to be being played dead straight after Coriolanus' exile, [[SubvertedTrope but ultimately subverted]] when Coriolanus' family manage to talk him down and make him agree to a peace,]] [[spoiler: [[RedemptionEqualsDeath even at the cost of his own life]]]].

* Badass: ''Coriolanus''. This guy charges alone into an enemy city and emerges alive and victorious. Also, given his rank, an example of a FourStarBadass.

* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Seems to be being played dead straight after Coriolanus' exile, [[SubvertedTrope but ultimately subverted]] when Coriolanus' family manage to talk him down and make him agree to a peace,]] [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath even at the cost of his own life]].

* NoYou: Coriolanus responds to his banishment by shouting at the commoners, "YOU ARE BANISHED!"

* GrayAndGrayMorality: Coriolanus' total contempt for the common people is clearly shown to be a serious fault, but he makes some good points (see DemocracyIsBad above) and the two men who claim to be "voices of the people" are described ([[YourMileageMayVary possibly quite correctly]],) as [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitious by [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Menenius]].

* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Seems to be being played dead straight after Coriolanus' exile, [[SubvertedTrope but ultimately subverted]] when Coriolanus' family manage to talk him down and make him agree to a peace, [[RedemptionEqualsDeath even at the cost of his own life]].

* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Seems to be being played dead straight after Coriolanus' exile, [[SubvertedTrope but ultimately subverted]] when Coriolanus' family manage to talk him down and make him agree to a peace, [[RedemptionEqualsDeath even at the cost of his own life]].]]

* [[ManipuativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: Volumnia (Coriolanus' mother) is an absolutely brilliant emotional manipulator. She plays her son like a fiddle in every major conversation they have.

* ManipuativeBitch: Volumnia (Coriolanus' mother) is an absolutely brilliant emotional manipulator. She plays her son like a fiddle in every major conversation they have.

* BreakTheHaughty