Context (OCR A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Context

Shakespeare's Coriolanus is a Roman play written between 1605-1608 that explores themes of political power, class conflict, war, and the tension between individual identity and societal expectations. Understanding the historical context behind the play helps us appreciate how Shakespeare used ancient Roman history to comment on contemporary political issues in Jacobean England.

Historical sources

Plutarch's Lives

Shakespeare drew heavily from the ancient Greek historian Plutarch's biographical work Parallel Lives, which compared famous Greek and Roman figures. The Life of Coriolanus provided Shakespeare with the main storyline and character details.

The Roman Republic setting

Political turmoil in early Rome

The play takes place during the early Roman Republic, shortly after Rome had overthrown its monarchy. This transitional period was marked by significant political and social upheaval as the new republican system struggled to establish itself.

Patricians versus plebeians

One of the central conflicts in Coriolanus reflects the historical class struggle in ancient Rome:

The role of tribunes

A crucial development in Roman political history was the creation of tribunes - officials elected by the plebeians to represent their interests and protect them from patrician abuse of power.

This class struggle would have resonated strongly with Shakespeare's audience, as similar tensions existed in early 17th-century England between different social groups.

Jacobean England parallels

Although set in ancient Rome, Coriolanus reflects the political and social concerns of Shakespeare's own time. Understanding these contemporary contexts reveals the play's deeper significance.

Absolutism versus republicanism

The play explores a fundamental political tension that was highly relevant to Shakespeare's audience:

The political debate:

• Coriolanus embodies uncompromising personal authority (like absolutism)
• The tribunes and plebeians represent more democratic, republican impulses
• This tension mirrors debates in Jacobean England about monarchical power

Social unrest and economic hardship

Early 17th-century England experienced significant social inequality and unrest that echoes throughout Coriolanus.

The Enclosure Acts:

• Common land was fenced off for private use
• This caused widespread hardship among lower classes
• Many people lost access to land they depended on

Food shortages:

• Harvest failures in the late 1590s and early 1600s created severe food shortages
• Rising grain prices caused suffering among common people
• The play's opening scenes depict plebeians complaining about food shortages
• These scenes would have felt immediately relevant to Shakespeare's audience

Military service and civic duty

England faced several military challenges during this period:

• Ongoing conflicts with Spain
• Failed colonial attempts in the Americas
• Questions about the relationship between military glory and political responsibility

Coriolanus as a commentary:

• The protagonist is portrayed as a heroic soldier but an incompetent politician
• This highlights tensions between martial virtue and civic leadership
• It reflects contemporary concerns about governance and military engagement

Elizabethan and Jacobean politics

Divine right of kings

Both Elizabeth I and James I believed in the divine right of kings - the idea that a monarch's authority comes directly from God, making resistance to royal power not just illegal but sinful.

This parallels James I's resistance to parliamentary control and his insistence on absolute royal authority.

Fear of rebellion

The Jacobean period saw heightened anxieties about rebellion and civil disorder.

Reflected in the play:

• The plebeians' mob-like behaviour
• Coriolanus's eventual betrayal of Rome
• Civil strife and threats of violence
• Questions about loyalty and patriotism

Machiavellian politics

The influence of Machiavelli

During Shakespeare's time, the ideas of Niccolò Machiavelli, particularly from The Prince (1513), were widely discussed. Machiavelli advocated for political pragmatism, arguing that rulers must be willing to use ruthlessness and cunning to maintain power.

Political manipulation in the play

Shakespeare explores Machiavellian concepts through his characters' political manoeuvring:

Understanding the dual contexts

Coriolanus works on two levels simultaneously - as a play about ancient Rome and as a commentary on Shakespeare's contemporary world. Both contexts are essential for full understanding.

Why Shakespeare chose this story:

• Roman history provided a safe way to explore controversial political topics
• Audiences could see parallels between Roman and English politics
• The distance of history allowed for more critical examination of power and authority

The play's enduring relevance:

• Questions about class conflict remain relevant
• Tensions between individual pride and public duty persist
• The relationship between military leadership and political governance continues to be debated
• Issues of representation and popular power are still contested

By examining both the Roman Republic setting and Jacobean England context, we see how Coriolanus offers profound commentary on the nature of power, leadership, class struggle, and political authority that transcends its specific historical moments.

Remember!