Conversation Piece - Monday, December 8, 2008
"Oh, come not near me, sir; I shall defile you.
I am that of your blood was taken from you
For your better health. Look no more upon't
But cast it to the ground regardlessly;
Let the common sewer take it from distinction.
Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor
Ever hung my fate, 'mongst things corruptible;
I ne'er could pluck it from him. My loathing
Was prophet to the rest, bu ne'er believed;
Mine honor fell with him, and now my life."
(The Changeling V.iii.158-67)
I am that of your blood was taken from you
For your better health. Look no more upon't
But cast it to the ground regardlessly;
Let the common sewer take it from distinction.
Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor
Ever hung my fate, 'mongst things corruptible;
I ne'er could pluck it from him. My loathing
Was prophet to the rest, bu ne'er believed;
Mine honor fell with him, and now my life."
(The Changeling V.iii.158-67)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Meta-Game
Honestly, I find this passage an ironic political meta-game. The fact that the citizens go through this thought process announces their disapproval of Coriolanus on principle. By the same token, they are forced to accept Coriolanus because of his deeds and services to Rome. This thought process is mirrored by Coriolanus himself. A number of times, he bashes the citizens and plebeians of Rome for being useless low-lives. And yet, each is forced to accept the other. As for a balance of power, each technically has the power to override the other, but doing so would be committing public suicide. And so, to keep each party from acting "monstrously" the status quo remains unchanged.
